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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCONCE, n., v.¹ Also skonce, skunce. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. sconce, a fortification or earthwork. [skɔns]

I. n. 1. An erection of stone, wood, turf or the like set up to act as a screen or shelter against the weather, for concealment, defence etc. (Cai. 1969); a part of a fortification, an earthwork; a fire-screen; a shed used by masons as a shelter when dressing stones (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Inv. 1721 Inv. Session Rec. (Mitchell 1902) 136:
From Hugh Angus House Downwards to the Sconce East Side of the Street.Sc. 1736 J. Dunbar Smegmatalogia 5:
Make a Sconce of Breckens to the Windward, to prevent the Ashes blowing away.Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 118:
A good sconce, a good screen, particularly from the fire.Per. 1820 Atholl MSS.:
The above tenants and Fewers have Covered all the Carnlieth Moss with Peats Casting and Sconces that very few of his Graces tenants can get any [peats] this year.

†2. A partition, screening wall in a house, a Hallan, esp. one of wattles (Sc. 1825 Jam.); a long seat or settle built at the side of the open fireplace in old houses (Sc. 1887 Jam.), the back wall of which often formed the Hallan. Also in n.Eng. dial.

†3. Protection, shelter in gen. Liter.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms lvii. 1:
I' the sconce o' yer wings I sal bide a wee.Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's xxix. 8:
But wyse folk are the skonce o' their neighbours Frae the days o' dowiest dreid.

†II. v. To shelter, protect, screen; with away: to ward or fend off.Sc. 1724 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 82:
To skonce my Skap and Shanks frae Rain, I bure me to a Beil.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) I. 178:
To skonce away the sooty rain.w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 64:
Original discoorse stops deid in its track
were he ti bi cynical, sconcin yir crack,
yet, savour the oracle answerin back.