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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STEEPEND, n. Also steepen, -in, steipen, stipen; ¶pl. stipence (Ayr. 1836 C. Lockhart Poems 91). Sc. forms of Eng. stipend. See P.L.D. § 45. [′stipən(d)] In Sc. usage restricted to the salary of a Presbyterian minister (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 77). Gen.Sc. Fig. phr. to preach accordin tae one's steepend(s), to act as one's circumstances allow, to follow the course of prudence or expediency, to use discretion (Abd. 1928; Uls. 1953 Traynor). In pl. esp. in Uls., referring to the voluntary subscriptions towards a minister's salary and the general upkeep in a Free Church (Wgt. 1904 E.D.D.).Inv. 1721 Steuart Letter-Bk. (S.H.S.) 168:
Mr. McKenzie of Pettie presses me much about colecting his stipen.Sc. 1745 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 309:
A year and a half's vacant stipends due by the heretors of Killiernan.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian viii.:
What have I been paying stipend and teind, parsonage and vicarage, for?Edb. 1872 J. Smith Jenny Blair 19:
We preached aye according to our stipend, an' that keepit a' thing richt.Slg. 1876 A. B. Grossart Wilson's Poems I. xxxi.:
I'm jalousin the steepend'l no be laigher.Ags. 1894 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xvi.:
Ministers are oncommon fond o' a steepin'.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister 232:
You tak' the lairdship, an I'll tak' the steepend!Sc. 1896 W. K. Morton Manual 21:
Out of this teind, stipends have been fixed for all parishes.Uls. 1923 J. Logan Uls. in X-Rays 110:
He has money in the bank and doesna need big steepens.Abd. 1925 Bnff. Journal (21 April):
He h'ard “the call o' the Lord” an' gid awa tull a bigger steepin'.