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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BACKET, BACKIT, n.

1. A wooden box for carrying fuel, ashes, etc.Sc. 1741 Caled. Mercury (6 March):
A Fire broke out in the Upper-apartments of the House of Ardmuckness in Argyleshire by the Chamber-maid's leaving a Backet with Live-ashes in the Room.Abd.(D) 1915 H. Beaton At the Back o' Benachie 20:
Raking all the ashes with a wooden rake into a “backet,” she “flung th' aise tae th' midden.”Ags. 1894 “F. Mackenzie” Humours of Glenbruar xix.:
The aise is i' the backet.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 62:
Ye've lang dispens'd, too, wi' a backet To haud your aise.Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller of Deanhaugh 39:
An auld tar, wi' a cloutit jacket An' wooden limb comes wi' his backet.Arg. 1901 N. Munro Doom Castle vii.:
Mungo . . . climbing the stairs with backets of peat or wood.

Combs.: (1) Ash backet, a box for ashes and household refuse.Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister (1895) 155:
Bordered with frugal lines of “ash backets.”

(2) Backet-stane, the stone on which the “saut-backet” rested.Ags. 1875 J. Watson Samples of Common Sense in Verse 66:
Backlins he gapin' wide retired Ayont the backet-stane.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 123:
At length it reacht the backet stane.

(3) Saut-backet, — backit, a small wooden box for holding salt, kept near the kitchen fireplace.Abd.(D) 1875 W. Alexander Life Among my Ain Folk (1882) 94:
Ye'll get yer shavin' leems o' the skelfie ahin the saut backit.Lth. 1819 J. Thomson Poems 36:
A pocker, tangs, a good saut backet.

2. A dustbin (Cai., Abd., Edb. 2000s).