Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WHITSUNDAY, n. Also Whitesunday, Whissonday, Whusunday, Whussenday (Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai), Whussinday; Witsunday (ne.Sc.), Wutsunda, Wissonday, Wysson- (Sc. 1887 Jam.). Sc. usage: one of the quarter-days in Scot., the legal term of the first half of the year (corresponding to Martinmas in the second half), on which rent, interest, wages and accounts were payable in terms of an Act of 1693, the date being fixed as 15th May. Owing to difficulties caused by the change of the calendar in 1752, fourteen days' grace was allowed for occupiers of property to remove and enter and in 1886 by Act 49 & 50 Vict. c.50 the removal term was fixed at 28th May, applicable also to the employment of farm and domestic servants (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 103). Gen.Sc. Comb. Whitsunday-present, an additional payment made by a tenant at Whitsunday. See Present, n., 3. [′ʍɪ(t)sʌnde, ′ʍʌs-, ne.Sc. + wɪt-]Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 65:
The said Walter was not entered to the grass of the said roume till after the tearme of Whitesunday.Inv. 1762 Session Papers, Petition A. McDonald (17 Nov.) 17:
£40 Scots of money-rent, two stones of cheese, one stone of butter, two fat wedders, as casualties, and half a stone of butter, 20 cheeses and two fed lambs, in name of Whitsunday presents.Ayr. 1788 Burns Letters (Ferguson) No. 216:
If my offer to the proprietor is accepted, I shall commence farmer at Whitsunday.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian 1.:
He would find the space betwixt his departure and the term of Whitsunday (24th May) short enough for the purpose of bringing forward those various debtors of Davie Deans.Slk. 1875 Border Treasury (23 Jan.) 303:
It's a lang time till Whussenday.Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton vi.:
We'll jist need t' mak' it term day fan Wutsunday comes.Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 143:
It's as rotten as a Whussenday turnip.Knr. 1905 H. Haliburton Excursions 4:
The roup was on Whussinday.Arg. 1914 N. Munro New Road xxxiii.:
One house untenanted since Whitsunday.Abd. 1943 Press and Jnl. (29 Jan.) 3:
For sale, Old-established General Merchant's Business . . . Entry at Whitsunday.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick v.:
Seyven 'ear come Wutsunda.