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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.

TENDER, adj. Also tener (Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 48), tenner. See P.L.D. § 64. Sc. forms and usages. [ne., wm.Sc. ′tɛnər]

1. In delicate health, sickly, ailing, weakly (Sc. 1752 D. Hume Polit. Discourses 56; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags. 1972). Now only dial. in Eng.Bnff. 1703 Rec. Bnff. (S.C.) 253:
Often tender and not able to travell especiallie in the winter tym.Ork. 1704 P. Ork. A.S. IX. (1930–1) 53:
The Minister being tender and sickly.Sc. 1711 Fountainhall Decisions (1759) II. 662:
She, feeling tender, took the advice of some physicians.Sc. 1773 Caled. Mercury (18 March):
A Person in a tender way.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian v.:
I had been tender a' the simmer.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd xi.:
We're jist a' back an' fore aboot oor ten'er ordinar'.

Combs. and derivs.: (1) tender-eyed, having weak eyes (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 87). Obs. in Eng.; (2) tenderly, ill, sickly, valetudinary (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 15); (3) tenderness, a state of sickness or ill-health.(3) Sc. 1701 Atholl MSS. (29 Aug.):
My wifes tenderness is my only excuse.Abd. 1707 Session Rec. Auchterless MS. (8 June):
No lecture by reason of the Minister's tenderness.Ork. 1718 H. Marwick Merchant Lairds (1936) I. 71:
Pray be cairfull of your self for I hear that your housbands tenderness hes occasioned you to be litle better as he is.Sc. 1726 J. Colston Guildry Edb. (1887) 131:
In respect of his valitudinariness and tenderness.

2. Of coal or other mineral: soft, easily broken or split off. Obs. exc. dial. in Eng.Ayr. 1799 Ayr. Arch. and Nat. Hist. Soc. I. 109:
We also learn that the roof was “tender” , and that in one place 18 feet of the roof fell in.Rnf. 1812 J. Wilson Agric. Rnf. 18:
Below the Upper coal there is a Tender coal not worked.