Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†CARTERS'-PLAY, n. comb. The yearly procession of the Carters' Society (see second quot.).Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) xiv.:
It happened curiously that . . . this should have been the one [day] on which the Carters'-play was held.Edb. 1845 Stat. Acc.² I. 12:
The only peculiar games here [Liberton] are what are called “carter's plays.” The carters have friendly societies for the purpose of supporting each other in old age or during ill-health, and with the view partly of securing a day's recreation, and partly of recruiting their numbers and funds, they have an annual procession. Every man decorates his cart-horse with flowers and ribbons, and a regular procession is made, accompanied by a band of music, through this and some of the neighbouring parishes.