Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FRAME, n., v. Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. A square or hoop of wood hung from the shoulders round the legs to carry pails on and to keep any splashing away from the clothes (Mry.² 1880; Ork., ‡Cai., Mry., Abd. 1953).Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo', 23:
At auchty-three she ran aboot on swippert lassie feet, An' cairriet cogies i' the frame.Abd. 1932 J. White Moss Road ii.:
She might tell Lisbeth in a friendly way to take the wooden frame and fetch some water.

†2. A pile of limestone for burning of certain dimensions (see quot.).Sc. 1803 Trans. Highl. Soc. 160:
A piece of ground, 8 feet in length, and 6 in breadth, covered with limestone from the quarry, to the height of 3½ feet, is termed a frame, and when the limestone is burnt, produces 150 Winchester bushels of shell lime.

3. An emaciated creature, human or animal, a “skeleton” (Sh., Cai., Abd., Ags., Kcb. 1953).Sh. 1893 Shetland News (12 Feb.):
Der farrow cow wis juist a frame.Kcb.¹⁰ 1943:
A see ye mak cats here, mistress. A saw a wheen frames gaun aboot the close as A cam in.

†II. v. To succeed, prosper. Obs. in Eng. c.1670.Sc. 1803 Battle of Philiphaugh in Child Ballads No. 202. iv.:
Said he, Sae weel we frame, I think it is convenient That we should sing a psalm.