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.
TURBOT, n. Also turbet, -it. A name commonly given in Scot. (and n.Eng. dial.) to the halibut, Hippoglossus vulgaris (Lth. 1825 Jam.; Bwk. 1838 Hist. Bwk. Nat. Club (1885) 174; Ork. 1891 Buckley and Harvie-Brown Fauna-Ork. 284; Sh. 1899 Evans and Buckley Fauna Sh. 228; e.Sc. 1903 G. Sim Fauna “Dee” 243; ne., e.Sc. 1930 Fishery Board Gl.), “the proper turbot getting another name, that of raun-fleuk” (Lth. 1810 P. Neil Fishes 11).
Combs. turbot flouk, id. (Dmf. c.1700 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. (1901) 57), turbot reeklins, the flesh of halibut cut into strips and dried in peat smoke (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.). See Reek, v., 4. (2).Ags. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XVI. 171:
Hollybot, here called turbot.Sh. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 136:
Conger, skate, and halibut, which latter fish the Shetlanders call turbot.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (18 May):
He wid a been awfu' blied til a hed wis a cut or twa o' turbit.
