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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

BA(A)ND, BAN', BAUND, n.³ A group of persons; a choir, specif. a church choir (Slk. 1975).Sc. 1861 C. Rogers Sc. Character 28:
At the close of the singing, he proceeded to read another Psalm, which, he said, was intended, not for the band, but to be sung by the congregation!Sh.(D) 1919 T. Manson Humours Peat Comm. II. 16:
Da baand at lives in dis toon is fit fur onything.Fif. 1894 A. S. Robertson Provost o' Glendookie 23–24:
Sic a grand sicht as it would be, an' sic a bonnie kirk, wi' the blue sky for a roof, the birds for a baund (choir) an' divots an' stumps o' trees for pews.Kcb. 1806 J. Train Poet. Reveries 18:
How nightly they in ban's right fell, Ay cross'd the ford aneath the mill.central, w.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 47:
‡Band. A church-choir.

Phrs.: (1) and what did the band play?, also and the band will play, sarcastic expression of disbelief: that will be right!; (2) tae a band playin, with gusto or relish, enthusiastically, without restraint. (1) wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 63:
We'll be happy ever eftir. And the band will play.Rnf. 1972 Bill Bryden Willie Rough 29:
WILLIE: I don't know what taw say, Hughie. I swear tae God, I wish I wis lyin there in your place. HUGHIE: What did the band play?(2) Sc. 1999 Herald 25 Jan 11:
Cook, once the most dangerous gunman in the north, if not all, of England, was manipulating the media to a band playing; ...Sc. 2001 Herald 20 Jan 36:
It's called the all-inclusive holiday. You pay your money up-front and, for a week or a fortnight, you get fed and watered to a band playing.Sc. 2001 Edinburgh Evening News 11 Jun 13:
Political parties, on the other hand, believe the public don't understand. Part of their role, they think, is to educate and enlighten (which they can do to a band playing) but never, ever to learn.Sc. 2001 Sunday Mail 28 Oct 27:
It has been said that Sarah Michelle Gellar can slay vampires to a band playing.
But it's no longer a joke. Yes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Musical is on its way to a TV near you.Abd. 1993:
I could eat ice cream tae a ban playin.Edb. 2005:
I could eat avocado tae a band playin.wm.Sc. 2005:
I could eat cream cookies tae a ban playin.