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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

PUTT, n.² Also put. [pʌt]

1. A piece of masonry supporting a wall or the like, a buttress (Slk. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).

2. A jetty or stone buttress projecting from the bank of a river “for altering the direction of the current” (Slk. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), “and for preventing the destruction of the bank; often also used for fixing salmon nets on” (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 145).Slk. 1845 Stat. Acc.² III. 12:
The Gala . . . would spare, if it were not carefully checked, neither corn-fields nor stone walls. The best remedy in use is a species of bulwark called puts. These are masses of stones loosely piled in the interior, but finished on the surface after the manner of a pavement . . . pointing up the stream and forming with the bank an angle of 45^o.

3. Combs.: (1) put(t)-stone, (i) one of a series of stones used to make a buttress or kerb for deflecting water, traffic, etc.; (ii) the stone at the foot of a gable on which the coping-stones rest (Cai. 1967), a peat-stane see Peat, n.¹, 6. (2); (2) skew-putt, id. (Sc. 1850 Ogilvie Dict., 1952 Builder (20 June) 943). See Skew.(1) (i) Sc. 1756 Session Papers, Duke of Queensberry v. Millar (9 Aug.) 2:
The Road by the South-side of the Canongate being in disrepair, the Magistrates of Edinburgh did, about thirty Years ago, or thereby, cause place Put-stones, and make a Conduit or Canal alongst the North-side thereof.Slg. 1758 Session Papers, Rhind v. Fiscal Slg. (1 Aug.) 13:
The foot-road is fenced in by large put-stones (instead of stoops) for keeping off wheel-carriages.(ii) Kcd. 1853–5 Trans. Highl. and Agric. Soc. 35:
All the corners of the buildings, and door and window rybats, soles and lintels, tabling, and put-stones and arch-stones, are to be well droved and jointed.Sc. 1902 H. L. Norton Smith Ork. Armorials 122:
On the putt stone of an old house in Kirkwall is a shield charged with a heart on which is set a cross erect.Fif. 1938 St. Andrews Citizen (12 Feb.) 11:
The joints in the brickwork of the gables above the level of the louvre and ventilators should be cleared out and . . . the putt stones on top should be lifted and a thin sheet lead damp course inserted before the stones are reset.