Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STOCKIN, n. Also stocken, stoackin, stoakin, †stoken; †stuckhan, -in (Lnk. 1715 Burgh Rec. Lnk. (1893) 290). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. stocking; a stocking used as a receptacle for money saved up, hence savings, accumulated wealth, a hoard. Gen. (exc. I.) Sc. Also in colloq. or dial. Eng.Lnk. 1873 A. G. Murdoch Lilts 90:
He wi' him had brocht A stocking weel padded wi' siller.Sc. 1876 S. Whitehead Daft Davie 57:
She had a “stocking” gathered to meet the wants of an evil day.Gsw. 1990 John and Willy Maley From the Calton to Catalonia 14:
Ann taen ma bloomin stoackins away fur candy rock.Edb. 2004:
Ma stoakins are aw covered in glaur efter aw that rain.
Combs. and phr.: 1. stockin-fit, = above; 2. stockin-leg, id.; 3. stockin-needle, a darning needle. Gen. (ex. Sh.) Sc.; 4. stocking-wire, a knitting-needle (Gall. c.1780 Walker MS.); 5. to cast (or throw) the stockin, to throw the stocking of a bride(groom) among the guests at a wedding by way of divining which is next to be married (see quots.). Also in Eng. dial.1. Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes xliv.:
I hae naething ava, excep' sevenpence in a stockin'-fit.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 132:
Ye ha'e something laid by in an auld stockin'-fit.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle 38:
She's hae a gye fat stockin'-fit.m.Sc. 1915 J. Buchan Hist. War V. 153:
The peasant and the small tradesman brought out his store of gold from the stocking-foot.2. Dmf. 1861 R. Quinn Heather Lintie 151:
A stockin' leg weel crammed, I trow, Wi' glancin' gowd sae yelly.Kcb. 1896 A. J. Armstrong Kirkiebrae ix.:
She must have a “sonsy stocking leg” somewhere.3. Ags. 1886 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 148:
Wi' a stockin' needle an' a bit worsit.4. Lnk. 1898 Gsw. Ballad Club 186:
I oiled it wi' a stockin' ware And set it gaun.5. Abd. c.1790 G. Smith Miscellaneous Pieces (1824) 141:
What sport at casting o' the stocken.Per. 1809 Letters J. Ramsay (S.H.S.) 266:
I have heard of throwing the stocking, but not of old shoes thrown at them when quitting the house.Edb. 1812 W. Glass Caled. Parnassus 54:
The stocking was thrown, an' they ended the weddin'.Ags. 1848 A. Laing Wayside Flowers 111:
Hey! the beddin' o' the bride, An' hey! the throwin' o' the stockin'.n.Sc. 1939 F. Drake-Carnell Old Sc. Custom 128:
The “throwing of the stocking” is also curious but still kept up in many places. After the wedding festivities the bride and bridegroom are escorted to the bedroom by the bridesmen and bridesmaids. There first the bride's stockings are taken by the men and then the bridegroom's by the girls. They throw them backwards over their shoulders towards the newly-married couple who are in bed. If the girl throws the stocking and it hits the owner on the head, she will marry before the year is out. There is also the belief with regard to the man who throws the bride's stocking.
