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.
Quotation dates: 1961-1988
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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.
