Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SPLASH, n.2, v.
I. n. 1. As in Eng. in Sc. combs. and derivs.: ¶(1) splash-cask, a shower-bath; (2) splasher-dasher, altered form of Eng. spatter-dash, a legging or gaiter; ¶(3) splashery, fig., a commotion, a tumult, an excited display; (4) splash-fishing, a method of fishing in which a net is suspended in the water and fish are driven into it by creating a splashing and commotion in the water around it; (5) splash-net(ting), see (4) (Sc. 1855 C. Idle Hints on Shooting 235; Kcb. 1971).(1) Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 228:
The promise I had made to mysel to whumle the splash-cask.(2) m.Lth. 1870 J. Lauder Warblings 102:
Thir splasher-dasher things upon my clitts.(3) Ayr. 1823 Galt Howdie (1923) 33:
Such a jehuing o' coaches, such a splashery o' horses.(4) Sc. 1956 J. Drummond Proof Positive 42:
It is called splash netting, but we call it splash fishing round here. It is conducted in the gloaming. They make a commotion in the water so the great silver trouts race about and hang themselves like Absalom.(5) Arg. 1906 H. Foulis Vital Spark vi.:
Poaching with a splash-net!
2. A net used for (4) above (Kcb. 1971).Sc. 1855 C. Idle Hints on Shooting 235:
To use the splash advantageously at night.
II. v. To fish with a splash-net (wm.Sc., Kcb. 1971). See 2. above.Sc. 1855 C. Idle Hints on Shooting 234:
When it is intended to continue splashing during the night.Arg. 1906 H. Foulis Vital Spark vi.:
We took the net and the punt and rowed doon to the river and began to splash.
