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.
†CAT-HUD, n. comb. “A large stone, which serves as a back to a fire on the hearth, in the house of a cottager” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.). Cf. Catstane, 2. Also as comb. cathudstane. [′kɑt-′hʌd]Sc. 1822 A. Cunningham Trad. Tales II. 307:
Sae gang thy ways, my wean, to the old pose ahint the cathud.Dmf. 1810 R. H. Cromek Rem. Nithsd. and Gall. Song App. C. 258–259:
The fire, a good space removed from the end wall, was placed against a large whinstone, called the cat-hud. Behind this was a bench stretching along the gabel, which, on trysting nights, was occupied by the children.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) ix.:
The cutty pipe . . . [is] here, on the cathud-stane; but there's naething in't, John.
