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 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CHAIN, n.

1. A Town Councillor, who wears a chain of office.Edb. 1928 D. Robertson and M. Wood Castle and Town iii.:
They [the incorporations] combine to elect the Convener of Trades, who represents them in the Town Council and is the last of the “chains.”

2.  As in Eng. a measure of length, in Sc. = 24 Ells, i.e. 74 feet or 889 inches (Sc. 1830 W. Shiress Tables 177). Nai. 1829 G. Buchanan Tables 240: 
Land is measured by what is known by the Scotch Chain of 24 Standard Scotch Ells.

3. In combs. (1) chain-plough, see quot.; (2) chain-wall, in Mining: "a long narrow strip of mineral left unworked, e.g. along the low side of a level" (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 16). See chinny-wall s.v. Chainzie below. (1)Sc.1776 Kames Gentleman Farmer 4: 
It is termed the chain-plough, because it is drawn by an iron chain fixed to the back part of the beam.