Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BOOK, n. The St.Eng. form is used in Sc. in the same sense as Buik, n., q.v.

1. The Bible, as used also in Eng. (last quot. in N.E.D. 1864); sometimes used in pl. = the Bible with Psalm book or hymnal.Slg. 1929 W. D. Cocker in Sc. Readings, etc. (ed. T. W. Paterson) 8:
The plague o' locusts that we read aboot in the Guid Book.Edb. 1915 J. Fergus The Sodger, etc. (1916) 13:
The betheral . . . The wey he carried in “the books” was jist a sight to see.

2. The reading of the Bible; family worship. Once in gen. use.Cai. 1869 M. McLennan Peasant Life 120:
The boy must be indoors every morning and night "at the books," as Mrs. Durrand prided herself on the regularity of family worship.Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 230:
Hwin dhe femlay wuz bii wee dhair brekfust un book.Fif. 1905 “S. Tytler” Daughter of the Manse xx.:
“But what will they do about ‘the Books' — about the difference in their manner of conducting family worship?”

3. Phr.: to lift one's books, to resign membership of a church.Ayr. 1891 H. Johnston Kilmallie xx.:
He saved a public scandal by lifting his books and . . . resigning his membership.