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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OUTLAY, n., v. Also ut-lay (Sh.). Now St. Eng., but orig. Sc. and dial. Eng.

I. n. 1. Expenditure, the laying out of money (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Per. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XX. 437:
It is one which accumulates yearly in value, without an yearly outlay of expence.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xiii.:
Some gentlemen . . . took small shares in the concern, and Sir Arthur himself made great outlay.Abd. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 71:
I managed to net a braw penny during the coorse o' the Crimean War, on the ootlay o' which mair in the neist chapter.

Used attrib. in phr.: ¶outlay gear, one's stock of furniture, implements, etc.Rnf. 1836 R. Allan Poems 72:
Our dwellings an' our outlay gear Lie smoking an' in ruin.

2. The spreading out of newly-cut peats for drying, a row or rows of peats spread out to dry (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964). Cf. Outburd.

II. v. 1. To expend or lay out money. Ppl.adj. outlayed, -laid.Peb. 1802 C. Findlater Agric. Peb. 38:
The proprietor pays all the outlayed money for materials and wages of workmen.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley vi.:
The expenditure which he had outlaid.

1. Of a hen: to lay out of the regular nest. Hence outlayer, a hen which does this, ppl.adj. outlaying. Gen.Sc.Kcb. 1899 Crockett Kit Kennedy xxv.:
Kit got a halfpenny a dozen from his grandmother for the eggs of “outlaying” hens . . . Kit was in the habit of taking occasional tribute from the official nest in the outhouses, in order that after a day or two he might find them as “outlayers” and receive his copper.