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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

Quotation dates: 1808-1809, 1948-1969

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TAB, n., v. Sc. usages:

I. n. Gen. in dim. form tabbie, a cigarette stub (ne. Sc., em.Sc.(a) 1920–70). Cf. n.Eng. dial. tab, id.Gsw. 1948 Glasgow Herald (6 Sept.):
The more economical method is to lay the tabbies end to end until they make up the length of a cigarette.
Abd. 1961 P. Buchan Mount Pleasant 22:
That smokit secret tabbies oot o' sicht.
Mry. 1969 Northern Scot (6 Dec.) 5:
We “riped oor pooches” for crumpled “tabbies”.

II. v. In ppl.adj. tabbit, of a woman's cap: having the flaps folded up.Abd. a.1809 J. Skinner Amusements 76:
Her mither ware a tabbit mutch.

[The sense in I. may be from an extension of the Eng. dial. usage of tab as the tip of a bootlace.]

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