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.
Quotation dates: 1735-1892, 1949-1966
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STACK, n. Also stak(k) (Sh.), stauk (Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 137). Dim. stacky (Sc. 1873 C. Swainson Weather Folk-Lore 91). Sc. usages:
1. As in Eng., a pile of grain or other crop. Comb. stack-heid, (the top of) a stack. Also as a v., to build the top of a corn-stack (Rxb. 1920 Kelso Chron. (18 June) 2). Phr. to keep a stack, to trim a stack as it is being built (Arg., Ayr., Wgt. 1971).Ags. 1735 Arbroath T.C. Rec. MS. (23 Jan.):
The eastmost Stackhead of Pease was carryed by John Rolland At five Pounds seventeen shilling the Boll.
2. A regularly-built pile of peats used for fuel, a peat-stack (Sh., Cai., ne.Sc. 1971). Combs. (1) stack-hill, -ald (Ork.), the ground or mound on which a peat-stack is built (Cai., Abd. 1939). Combs. stackald brae, -steethe (Ork. 1971). See Brae, Steid. n.1, 2.; (2) stack-meels, the fine peat dross which accumulates below a peat-stack (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.). See Muild, n.1, 4.; (3) stack-mou, that end of a peat-stack from which the peats are drawn for use (Bnff., Abd. 1971). See Mouth, I. 4.(2); (4) stack-stead, the site on which a stack is built (Sh. 1971).Sh. 1892 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 51:
"Geng ta da stack," "Geng ta da wal."(1) Cai. 1819 Edb. Ev. Courant (1 April) 4:
That adjoining Dwelling-house . . . with the north-east half of the Garden, Stackhill, Closes, and pertinents thereto.Abd. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XII. 273:
The fuel chiefly used is peat . . . it costs at an average, before it can be laid down on the stack-hill, about 2s. per cart load.(3) Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvii.:
He comes roon by the stack mou'.(4) Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19. 34:
Da stack steads whar da folk biggit dir paets till dey got dem flit hom.
3. A tall column of rock rising out of the sea in front of a cliff of which it had orig. formed part till separated by weathering (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Ork., Cai., Mry., Bnff. 1971). Also in former Norse parts of England.Cai. 1769 T. Pennant Tour 196:
Near Freswick Castle the cliffs are very lofty. . . . Beneath are great insular columns, called here stacks.Sh. 1821 Scott Pirate xxvii.:
The chasm which separated the small peak, or stack, occupied by Norna's habitation, from the main ridge of cliff and precipice.Sth. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 85:
The immense stocks [sic] or detached Gothic-like pillars at Kerwic bay near Cape Wrath.Sh. 1874 Trans. Highl. Soc. 263:
They are of the form called "stacks," slender conical spits of gneiss.Ork. 1966 New Orkney Bk. 101:
When two sea-caves on opposite sides of a narrow headland unite, a natural arch is produced. It may persist as such for a time but eventually the arch falls and the sea-ward of the headland remains as an isolated sea-stack.
4. In pl.: a variety of hide-and-seek, played in a stack-yard (Lnk. 1898 A. B. Gomme Games II. 211).
[O.Sc. stak, of peats, 1608, stackhill, 1687, stakested, 1642. For sense 3. cf. Faer. stakkur, a high insulated rock.]
