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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLAISTER, n., v. Also plester, -ir, plestre. Gen.Sc. forms and usages of Eng. plaster. This spelling is also common in 18th c. Eng. [′plestər]

I. n. 1. As in Eng., in all senses (w.Sc. 1741 A. M'Donald Galick Vocab. 28). Comb. plaster and form, parge and core (Sc. 1952 The Builder (20 June) 942).Sc. 1703 G. Turnbull Diary (S.H.S.) 427:
Dovs were applyd to his soles, and a blistering plaister to his neck, and a cordial filep given him now and again.Sc. 1754 J. Justice Sc. Gardiner 9:
It will be convenient to lay on two coats of strong plaister.Sc. 1794 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) I. 36:
I ventured to hint the convenience of a roll of diaculum plaister.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 134:
Some wi' airts, like plaister saws Can smuggle their infection.Knr. 1886 H. Haliburton Horace 87:
Your herbs an' drogs, your drinks an' plaisters, An' a' your ither unkent slaisters!Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 76:
He . . . saw beside him a daud of plaister from the roof.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond B. Bowden (1922) viii.:
Man it [a love-letter]'s the afaest plester o' spooney treacle iver I hard o'.

2. A chastisement, beating, sc. something painful applied to the body (Cai. 1966); transf. a verbal castigation, a dressing-down (Sh. 1966), a malediction, swearing, volley of oaths (Sh. 1966).Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 214:
He underwent a severe tost of the old plaister, before any mercy was shown.Sh. 1965 New Shetlander No. 75. 16:
Shu'd heard Bob a mony a time lay oot plestirs fur dat aald lamp.

3. One who intrudes himself on the attention or company of others, a fawning or ingratiating person, a nuisance (Per. 1911 Per. Constit. Jnl. (13 Feb.); Kcd., Ags. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Uls. 1930; wm.Sc. 1966); a fulsome flatterer (em.Sc.(a). Dmf., Uls. 1966).

4. A botched or mismanaged job, a mess, “shambles” (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 261; Ags., Per., wm.Sc., Kcb., Uls. 1966); a messy, untidy worker (Slk. 1966).

5. A piece of showy adornment, “anything overloaded with vulgar showy ornament” (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.), a superfluity of jewellery, frills or the like in one's dress (wm.Sc. 1966); an unnecessary fuss or to-do, a piece of fulsome sentiment or senseless ostentation. Hence plastery, adj., gaudy, over-ornamented, showy (Patterson); a showy over-dressed person (wm.Sc. 1966).Ags. 1946 Forfar Dispatch (30 May):
In my walk o' life fowk didna hae honeymunes nor any sic plesters.

II. v. 1. As in Eng. Deriv. plaisterer, a plasterer (Rs. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ X. 586). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1701 Seafield Corresp. (S.H.S.) 339:
I will be very weell pleased that the selean be plestred under Janats chambr.Sc. 1725 W. McFarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 300:
A very convenient inn built by Thomas Alburn an Englishman [sic] and the best plaisterer that ever was yet in Scotland.Sth. 1753 C. D. Bentinck Dornoch (1926) 304:
The tradesmen present recommended that the “walls and gavels be partly harled and plaistered within.”Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch x.:
Our hearts must be trampled in the mire of scorn . . . in order that a bruise may be properly plaistered up.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxiii.:
Plaister't wi' dubs to the vera croon o' 's heid.Dmf. 1912 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo vi.:
I hae the smell in my nostrils o' the hair oil that Davie plaistered a' ower his tozzlie hair.Sc. 1929 Scots Mag. (May) 150:
What ails plaisterers thir days that they shuid be lowsed at this oor?

2. intr. To work or go about in a slovenly, slap-dash way, mess around, “play about” (n.Sc., Ags., Per., Ayr., Dmf. 1966). Cf. Slaister.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 226:
It'll save us plasterin' through this infernal place ony farer.Ags. 1899 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy xviii.:
Sandy hasna dune a hand's turn for the lest week, but haikit aboot wi' them [his cronies], plesterin' aboot this thing an' that.Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 201:
Aye plesterin awa, no' makin naethin o't, like a bee among tar.Bch. 1930:
Fat the deuce are ye plaisterin an' clairtin amon the dubs that wye, ye fool unlucky vratch?

3. To make a fuss or useless to-do, to be over-attentive, to fawn, to intrude obsequiously or inopportunely (Kcd., em.Sc.(a), Rxb. 1966). Pa.p. plestered, bothered by someone's unwelcome attentions or demands.Ags. 1925:
I cannie be plestered wi'm.Ags. 1946 Forfar Dispatch (14 Feb.):
I flang the piece at the robin. instead of plaisterin wi him as yuisual.

4. To swear, curse, use profanity (Sh. 1975).