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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†COMB'S-MASS, n.phr. “The designation generally given to the term of Whitsunday in Caithness” (Cai. 1825 Jam.2; Cai.3 c.1890). [′kumzməs]
[“The word undoubtedly is Colm's Mass, i.e. the mass of the celebrated St Columba, abbot of Iona. According to Camerarius, the day appropriated in the Calendar to his memory is the second of May” (Ib.). Cf. St Combs, a village in Abdsh., named after the church of St Columba.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Comb's-mass n. phr.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Jun 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/combsmass>
