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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EASEMENT, n. Also aisment, †easment.

1. Relief from physical discomfort or inconvenience, e.g. (1) from illness; (2) in evacuating the bowels (Inv. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.); (3) in travelling. Now obs. in Eng. Known to Lnk.¹¹ 1942; Sh.¹⁰, Uls.⁴ 1949.(1) Sc. 1920 D. Rorie Auld Doctor 43:
It's “I'll try this,” and “I'll try that,” At ilka adverteesement, She flang his siller richt an' left An' niver got nae easement.Sc. 1983 John McDonald in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 45:
He gangs westlins-
the wey o the souchin wund-
reengin efter an easement
he'll never fund. Ags. 1993 Mary McIntosh in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 112:
The bairn wis claikin an she made tae gie is aisment. Peety, smuired ower the lang days, wis like tae brak in on his venim.(3) Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxxviii.:
I had the cast of a horse from Ferrybridge, and divers other easements.

2. Chiefly in pl.: accommodation in a general sense; either in regard to entertainment or lodgings, buildings, etc.Abd. 1768 A. Ross What ails the Lasses ii.:
My boughts of good store are no scanty, My byrs are well stocked wi' ky, Of meal i' my girnels is plenty, An' twa or three easments forby.Sc. 1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker II. 227:
The bills in their houses say, they have different easements to let.Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery xvi.:
If Sir Piercie Shafton's affairs had permitted him to honour with his company our poor house of St Mary's, he might have had less to complain of in respect of easements.

3. Pecuniary assistance.Rnf. 1880 W. Grossart Parish of Shotts 240:
He [miner] had a weekly allowance in times of sickness . . . also a little easement at death.