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 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LADE, n. Also layde (Uls. 1920 J. Logan Uls. in X-Rays 145). A water channel, esp. one conveying water to a mill-wheel, a mill-race. Gen.Sc., rare in Sh. Freq. in comb. mill-lade (see also Mill). [led]Bte. 1701 Rothesay T. C. Rec. (1935) II. 541:
To make a straight course for the watter to run as formerly to the lade.Gsw. 1727 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 288:
For cutting out the lade behind the milne, a considerable lenth out of solid craig.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 37:
They wadna wash in Satan's lade. That stream's but shaul.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 159:
The ducks I heard giein queer eldrich squakes about the “lade”.Fif. 1841 Trans. Highl. Soc. 318:
The water . . . is conveyed by a lade to the Dunfermline dam.Bnff. 1880 J. F. S. Gordon Chron. Keith 141:
The wooden lade carrying the water on the wheel.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister 230:
He wad be michty gled o' the water-poo'er o' MacLurg's mill-lade.em.Sc. 1920 J. Black Airtin' Hame 97:
Nae mill wheel's splash, nor happers click, I' the lade nae water rins.wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 13:
They kept the lade clear, they swept the grinding stones and made sure the water-wheel turned freely, unhindered by weeds.