Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCABBIT, adj. Also -eet. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. scabbed:

1. Of land: bare, infertile, with little or no vegetation (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.; Sh., Cai. Ags., Per. 1969).Gall. 1864 A. Agnew Hered. Sheriffs 515:
The scabbit braes o' Inch.Dmb. 1868 J. Salmon Gowodean 63:
Your twa three miles o' scabbit bent.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xxx.:
Beset on every side with scabbit hills of sand.

2. Fig. Mean, worthless, shabby, paltry. Gen.Sc. Obs. in Eng.Gall. 1701 Session Bk. Penninghame (1933) I. 68:
Ye may follow the way your scabbed father took.m.Lth. 1794 G. Robertson Har'st Rig (1801) 40:
For our sma' wage, O wha wad bide, For scabbit auchtpence!Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 147:
Ye're but a crabbit, scabbit lot.Lnk. 1902 A. Wardrop Hamely Sk. 134:
A paltry, scabbit-lukin' “thrippeny-bit”.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 19:
Sic a scabbeet hapneyworth hei's gien iz!Ags.²⁰ 1954:
Dinna be sae scabbit wi't = be a bit more generous with it.