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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

POST, n.², v.¹ Sc. usages:

I. n. A letter-carrier, formerly applied to a courier carrying mails, a post-carrier or -messenger, in mod. usage of a G.P.O. postman (Abd. 1712 Session Papers, Ritchie v. Craig (22 Jan. 1782) 22; Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 25). Gen.Sc. and in Eng. dial. Dim. form postie, -y, id. (Fif., Lth. 1920 Wilson Cent. Scot. 260). Gen.Sc. Combs. postcaird, Sc. form of Eng. postcard, †post-ship, a contract for the carrying of mails, †town post, the official post-carrier of a town.Sc. 1701 Seafield Corresp. (S.H.S.) 332:
I have sent your Lordships letter and the booke to Mr Gordon by Robert Baillie the tounes post.Fif. 1712–14 W. C. Dickinson Two Students (1952) 69, 73:
Your Ho[nour] may send me the ballance of the last Accompt by the Bearer John Robertson Town-post here . . . To Robertson the Post for a letter he brought us — 2s.Ags. 1716 L. Macbean Kirkcaldy Burgh Rec. (1908) 237:
Allows the treasurer to set the postship to John Orrock, hyrer, as principle, and Edward Harrison, as cautioner.Bnff. 1720 Records Bnff. (S.C.) 398:
George Brebner former post for the shyre of Banff.Sc. 1722 R. Wodrow Sufferings iii. ii. s. 4:
The first Accounts of Matters of this Nature are not readily the best, and 'tis the lame Post brings the surest News.Sc. 1744 Forfeited Estate Papers (S.H.S.) 17:
To 18 days subsistence for Riddle the Groom at 8d. a day, and for the glyd Post at 6d.Ayr. 1794 E. Frykman J. Galt (1959) 73:
A list of inhabitants in the Burgh of Irvine, dated June 1794, includes “Alexander Dickie, post.”Crm. 1834 H. Miller Scenes (1857) 370:
The post who, about half a century ago, travelled over this terminal stage six times every week was an elderly Highlander of the Clan Munro.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays and Leg. 35:
News, I tell ye postie never Brocht sic news fae toon!Ags. 1889 Barrie Tillyloss Scandal 88:
Gavin, who is the Glen Quharity post, is still young.Per. 1895 I. Maclaren Auld Langsyne 283:
A' dinna think muckle o' beer observed Posty; there's nae fushion in't.s.Sc. 1904 W. G. Stevenson Glen Sloken 27:
It took Tammas, the porter, an' Dauvit an' posty to gie 'er a docky doon aff the van.Edb. 1926 A. Muir Blue Bonnet iii.:
The posty chapping at the door.Abd. 1941 Abd. Bon-Accord (27 Nov.) 12:
Jist as she wis feenishin', . . . the post cam' roon the neuk.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 48. 9:
Willie Postie came to the door today wi (according to him) a back-burden o naethin idder bit cattylogs an circ'lars.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 25:
In Aiberdeen, postcairds war o Willie Wallace's statue, Heilan coos in mist, the Duthie Park in a doonpish.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 230:
' ... Usually I worked for a pittance and a roof ower ma heid. That was fine. I niver spent much so I saved a fair bit in thae years. And I'd send ma mither a postcaird once in a while, tae let her ken I wasna deid.'

II. v. 1. To convey, accompany, carry in the manner of a post. Obs. in Eng. in 17th c.; to act as a postman (ne.Sc. 1966).Kcd. 1844 W. Jamie Muse 76:
He couldna stand his lane Till twa, ane on ilka side, Did post him to his Jean.Mry. 1965 Northern Scot (8 May) 5:
O Willie Wink has postit noo for mair than twenty year.

2. Ppl.adj. postit, inquisitive (Fif. 1966), phs. extension of mod. colloq. Eng. and U.S. posted, up-to-date with one's information, au fait.