Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1710-1730, 1786-1814, 1880-1939
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CHANGE, n.
†1. An alehouse. Prob. so called because it was the place where the post-horses were changed.Sc. 1723 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 405:
Which house keepeth a change (the publick road to Edinburgh and Glasgow passing that way).Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 28:
He had no far tae gang; for Ma'n's Slater keepid a change i' the hoose o' Purgatory.n.Sc. c.1730 E. Burt Letters North Scot. (1818) I. 185:
As we were passing by the Door of a Change, one of them, the Weather being Cold, proposed a Dram.Mearns 1796 J. Burness Thrummy Cap (n.d.) ll. 74–75:
Aside the kirk dwalls Robbie Dorat, Wha keeps a change, an' sells guid drink.
Combs.: †(1) change-fo'k, tavern keepers; (2) change-house, an alehouse (Fif.10 1939); see also cheenge-hoose s.v. Cheenge, n. and v.; †(3) change-keeper, an innkeeper (Per., Lnk. 1825 Jam.2); †(4) change-wife, a female innkeeper.(1) Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems and Songs 81:
Unlike the puir, sma' penny-wheep, Whilk worthless, petty change-fo'k keep.(2) Abd.(D) 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 64:
The soldiers drink in the change-house free.Fif. 1895 “S. Tytler” Macdonald Lass ii.:
The very lassie in the change-house whipped out when she had a guess who the soldiers were after.Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair xviii.:
Now, butt an' ben, the Change-house fills.(3) Abd. 1710 Records Burgh Abd. (1872) 339:
They find that stables are greatly wanting for accomodating strangers horses, . . . and that change keepers should be encouraged for the accomodating of them.(4) Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems and Songs 291:
The change-wife bonnily she'll bloom.
2. Custom, business patronage. Known to Bnff.2, Abd.9 1939.Kcb. 1814 J. Train Strains Mountain Muse 95:
And soon they find, that people to them Strange, Will use them much discreeter for their change.
Phr.: to gi(v)e change, to get —, to give, get custom (Cai. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl., give —; Bnff.2, Abd.2 1939).Bnff.2 1939:
Noo that I've sattl't aside ye, I howp t' get yir change.Abd. 1898 E.D.D.:
Dinna gyang bye ma door, bit gie me yer change.
3. Payment, the whole money due for a purchase (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.). Not known to our correspondents.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. Dwn.:
Sir, I've called for the change for them pea-rods.
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"Change n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/change_n>
