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.
Quotation dates: 1721-1818, 1873
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TREAT, v., n. Also trate (Gsw. 1701 J. Hill Memorabilia (1835) 402; Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 191; Bnff. 1939 J. M. Caie Hills and Sea 32); trait (m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 23; Abd. 1958 People's Jnl. (1 Nov.)), traet (Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 115).
A. Vbl. forms. Pr.t. as above [trit; em.Sc. (a) tret, ‡elsewhere]. Pa.t. treatit (Gen.Sc.); treat (Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 17), tret (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II.2; Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Poems 30; Rxb. 1880 T. Watts Woodland Echoes 38; Kcb. 1898 T. Murray Frae the Heather 29; Rxb. 1942 Zai; ne.Sc. 1973); †trat (Sc. 1814 E. Bond Letters II. 90). Pa.p. †treate (Sc. 1728 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) IV. 5), trate (Edb. 1886 R. F. Hardy Within a Mile 16), traet (Abd. 1929 Abd. Weekly Jnl. (29 Aug.) 6), treat (s.Sc. 1880 Border Counties Mag. 111), tret (Per. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 227; Fif. 1886 S. Tytler St Mungo's City xxix.; s.Sc. 1892 Scots Mag. (June) 7; Lth. 1924 A. Dodds Poppies in Corn 10; Rxb. 1961 W. Landles Penny Numbers 12), trett (Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 179) [trɛt; s.Sc. træt].
B. Sc. †usage tr. to beseech, beg, request (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), also intr. with on.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 206:
I'll never brew Drink, and treat Drinkers. I will not be at the Pains to procure such and such Things, and then to urge them upon People against their Wills.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 55:
Lindy 'treated Bydy sair to eat.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 196:
She soud be treat to tak a look.Peb. 1818 J. Affleck Waes o' Whisky 16:
Willy tret her to come near the fire.s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 244:
Dinna treat on us to leave ye.
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"Treat v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/treat>
