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 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BEET, BEAT, BEIT, n.¹ and v.¹ [bit]

1. n. “A sheaf or bundle of flax, as made up for the mill” (Sc. 1825 Jam.²).Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Transactions 330:
The first row of the lint is put in slop-ways, with the crop-end downward, all the rest with the root-end downward, — the crop of the subsequent beats or sheaves still overlapping the band of the former.Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick III. 42:
I harl't ye out tae the stenners, as wat's a beet o' lint, an hingin' your lugs like a droukit craw.Kcb. c.1885 Jas. Campbell in Vale of Urr Verses (MS. Collection) I. 107:
Then gathered in beits by the Farmer's lass A wee or Halloween. Scutched frae the showes [refuse], by the pearly Orr.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
Beet. A small sheaf, or bunch of flax.

2. v. “To tie up flax in sheaves” (Sc. 1825 Jam.²).Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶ Add.:
“To beet a web,” is to prepare it for the weaver, by making up the several parts into bundles. vbl.n.

(1) “Beeting, beetin, beating, the assortment of bundles which the weaver carried home from the warehouse was called the beating of his new web” (Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶ Add.).

(2) (See quot.)Fif.³ 1930:
Beetings. In warping from bobbins, the ends which have not run off.

Comb.: beiting-band. (See quot.) (Rnf. c.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) B. 237)Kcb.³ 1929:
Beiting-band. Bandage of a sheaf of flax or lint made of rushes dried in the sun and beaten on a flat stone.