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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GANTREE, n., v. Also gaun-, gawn-; variant by back-formation ganter and pl. (used as .sing.) forms gantrees, -tries, gaun-, -tres(s), gawn-, ga(u)ntrice; ¶goantrees (Sc. 1895 Gl. to Scott Works XLVIII. 454). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. ga(u)ntry.

I. n. 1. As in Eng. = a wooden stand for barrels (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 119, gawntree, 1807 J. Hall Travels Scot. I. 226, gauntrice; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., gantrees; Ags.¹⁸ (gantrice), Ayr.⁸ 1954). Hence transf. in a modern bar, the shelves with their bottles behind the barman (Fif., wm., sm.Sc. 1975).Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.T.Misc. (1876) I. 100:
Syne paid him upon a gantree, As hostler-wives should do.Sc. 1747 Nairne Peerage Evidence (1873) 80:
Item a gantrees att two shillings.Edb. 1772 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 20:
At Hallow-fair, whare browsters rare Keep gude ale on the gantries.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality viii.:
The housekeeper . . . is neither so young nor so handsome as to tempt a man to follow her to the gauntrees.Ayr. 1848 J. Ramsay Woodnotes 26:
Upon a gauntree's end, completely clad With casks.Ags. 1912 A. Reid Forfar Worthies ix.:
Every house also had a gantrice, or box, on which the pan and pitcher stood.Knr. 1925 “H. Haliburton” Horace 170:
Yet beardit John will hauld his ain Wi' Bacchus and his vine-trees, Whether wide-racing owre the plain Or resting on the gantrees.

2. A small loft, usually made by placing long pieces of wood across the eaves (Cai. 1916 T.S.D.C. II., Cai.⁷ 1953). Cum. dial. has gantry = a garret.

‡3. A wooden tripod used as a stack prop (Kcb. 1950).

4. By extension: any high perch, e.g. the seat on a binder or the like (Ags. 1950).

†5. Used as a derogatory term.Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick II. xvii.:
What hae ye made o' my Jock, ye muckle gauntres o' a rybel loon, it ye are?

6. In form ganter, a tall, unstable erection (Ork. 1930). Adj. gantery, unstable, ricketty, top-heavy (Id.).

¶II. v. To set barrels on gantries. Only in Tennant.Fif. 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair vi. xxiv.:
And, gawntress'd round each ruddy fire about, Hogsheads of porter and of cheery ale.Sc. 1846 Anon. Muckomachy 65:
Great michtie barrels, gauntress'd strang.