Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1707-1715, 1871-1913
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COBLE, Cobble, n.3 Also dim. coblie.
†1. “A place for steeping malt, in order to brewing” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Ags. 1707 Inventory of Buildings (per Fif.1):
Item: The Malt bame and Stone Coble.Ags. 1715 Marriage Contract (per Fif.1):
The malt bame kiln and coble and haill pertinents thereto.
2. A water hole for steeping flax. Also cobble-hole.Abd. 1913 J. Allardyce Byegone Days in Abdsh. 178:
The flax seed was sown in April, and the crop pulled about the 1st of August. Bound in sheaves and put in stooks for a time to dry, it was then steeped in water in the “lint cobble” for ten days.Ant. 1909 Colville 175:
I was forcibly shown what the old-time cobble-hole was when travelling through Antrim. The bundles of flax are kept down in water-pits, during the stage of putrefaction, by rounded stones.
3. “A watering place for cattle, a small pond” (Mry.1 1925; Bnff.2, Abd.2 1936, Cai. 1960). Apparently confined to ne.Sc.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb ii.:
Here's a bit coblie o' fine clear caller water; we'll gi'e the beast a drink, an' lat 'er get a mou'fu o' girss.
†4. “A square seat, or what is otherwise called a table-seat, in a church; most probably denominated from its fancied resemblanee to the place in which malt is steeped” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2).Ags. 1910 J. Malcolm Monifieth 83:
For the elders, the choir, and some families were boxed-in pews known as "cobbles".
