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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BATE, v.¹ A Sc. form of Eng. beat, used for all parts of the v., but pa.p. has also baten. See Bet(t). [bet, bèt Sc.; be¹t Ags.]

1. To beat, as in Eng.Sc. 1834 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) IV. 86:
But Watty bate Kitty a' till sticks.Edb. 1866 J. Smith Merry Bridal o' Firthmains 3:
An fechtin' Pate, sae ill to bate.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie Poems in Two Tongues 18:
I was forfochen sair, disjaskit, and fair bate.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 94:
'The rebels - or whitiver ye'd cry them - that mairched frae Dumfries tae the Pentlands, and wis bate by mad Tam Dalyell the Muscovite.' w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 60:
'Twas yince oor fitba players' fate
ti substitute for Nation-State.
Nae team o oors is saicent rate
an when we score,
we'll show them aa, they cannae bate,
oor Hampden Roar. Rxb. 1926 Kelso Chron. (18 June) 4/6:
This season bates a'. Dmf. 1997 Nell Thomson Spit the First Sook 38:
She was skip and I was lead. The men were not too keen to play against us - I had a sneaky feeling they were feared tae get bate, but Issy was a force to be reckoned with. Uls. 1997 Bernard MacLaverty Grace Notes (1998) 258:
'We very rarely bate a trevally on the drums indoors,' Cammy said. 'Because the buildings fall down afterwards.' At break-time the members of the orchestra, mostly the men, gathered round to poke and finger the drums and ask questions.

2. Of a shoe: to press and hurt the foot.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 50:
Ma feet war baten (or, are bet) wi' wearin' thae new shuin.