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.
STOKER, n. Sc. jocular usage; also an additional payment to fishermen (see quots.). Bnff. 1961 Stat. Acc.3 102:
Another custom in existence for a number of years is the payment of an advance, known as a “stoker”, probably to the amount of £1 weekly for tobacco which is paid to a crew member in financial difficulties during the season.Fif. 1985 Peter Smith Lammas Drave 165:
stoker The engineers and firemen in the drifters were on weekly wages, but they were also allowed 2 taes of lines at the gartlins. The catch from this was known as stoker. Abd. 1988 Peter Buchan Fisher Blue 56:
The Turk [a nickname] had gone to the office for the crew's 'stoker', cash from the sale of mackerel.
