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.

BILGET, Bilgid, n.² A support or projection for shelves and doors; slips of wood nailed on to household or farm utensils of a rounded shape to prevent them rolling. [′bɪlgət]Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.⁴ 1934:
Bilget, in house-work, a wood brick; in ship-work, a little piece of wood applied as a bed or cushion for a bigger piece to rest on.Ork. 1905 W. T. Dennison Ork. Weddings and W. Customs 31:
In old times all the eating utensils were of wood, before the era of pewter and delf. And in those days oblong troughs, brought from Norway, were often used as dishes at weddings, as these were hollowed out of parts of trees and were circular on the outside, and when meant to be placed on a table they had a small slip of wood, called a “bilgid,” nailed on the bottom on each side so as to prevent them rolling off the table.n.Sc. 1898 W.G. in E.D.D.:
Bilget. A piece of wood built into walls at doors on which to nail the door-standards, or posts to which the doors are hinged.Abd. 1825 Jam.²:
Bilget. A projection for the support of a shelf, or anything else.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 55:
†Bilget. A block of wood projecting from a wall to support a shelf.