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.
VACANCY, n. Also Sc. forms vacancie; vawcancy (Per. 1895 I. Maclaren Auld Lang Syne 266) vaucancy (Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xiii.). [†′vɑkənse] Sc. usage: a vacation, holiday. Now obs. or arch. in Eng. See Vacance.e.Lth. 1703 A. I. Ritchie St Baldred 129:
He must not grant the vacancie without acquainting the session.Ayr. 1782 A. Edgar Old Church Life (1885) 319:
They order that there be no vacancy in the school that day.Ayr. 1855 Maybole Ragged School Minute Bk. MS. (17 Aug.):
The Meeting agree that a vacancy of one week take place after the examination.Sc. 1876 J. Grant Burgh Schools 182:
Two annual “plays”, or “vacancies”, have of old been granted to the scholars.
