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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

INPIT, v., n. Also input(t). [′ɪnput, ′ɪnpɪt]

I. v. To put in, insert, in gen.; specif. to grant a lease, give occupancy to (a tenant); of crops: to sow, used pass. in 1789 quot. (Gall. 1958).Abd. 1732 R. Dinnie Birse (1865) 148:
With power also to the said John Ley to outputt and inputt tennents from and to the saide lands.Abd. 1742 Powis Papers (S.C.) 285:
To Inputting 2 Losens in the Yellow Room.Sc. 1752 J. Spottiswoode Stile of Writs 358:
And to remove, out-put and in-put the Tenants and Possessors of the Lands, and others foresaid.Kcb. 1789 Dmf. Weekly Jnl. (24 Feb.):
Whoever becomes tenant will have the in-putting crop.

Hence 1. ppl.adj. input, which has been put in, sown, loaded, etc.; 2. vbl.n. inpittin, a putting in, in gen.; the leading in of the harvest (Kcb.¹⁰ 1946); 3. inputter, one who puts in; specif. one who rents a grazing and puts animals into it.1. Sc. 1704 Fountainhall Decisions II. 233:
The tacksman of a park was not found liable for a horse input.Inv. 1729 Steuart Letter Bk. (S.H.S.) 325:
I gott only yesternight the inclosed Bill of loadning for Mr Thomsons Cargoe of meall being 840 Bolls input.Dmf. 1788 Dmf. Weekly Jnl. (1 Jan.):
The input cropt of forty acres of land, all richly limed and dunged.Sc. 1839 Lockhart Ballantyne-Humbug Handled 34:
The whole input stock was gone.2. Fif. 1707 L. Macbean Kirkcaldy Burgh Rec. (1908) 230:
The sole and entier right not only of presenting and in-putting of a schoolmaster.Ags. 1736 Arbroath T.C. Rec. MS. (18 May):
They appoint and impower John Renny late Baillie to oversee the inputting and discharging of Ballast as said is.Fif. 1868 St Andrews Gazette (13 June):
The land is as bare and brown as if it had just been harrowed after the inputting of the seed.Ayr. 1902 Trans. Highl. Soc. XIV. 107:
The advantages of the shed, whether for corn or for hay, are not confined to the inputting of the material.Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne) 75:
“Ere's nae little trouble wi' their inpittins an 'er ootpittins,” that is, feeding and cleaning [of children].Sh. 1957 Sh. Folk-Bk. III. 18:
Later, when everything was in the yard, another foy was held called de inpittins.3. Edb. 1722 Caled. Mercury (28 May):
The Taxmen of said Park or his Servants are not to be lyable for any Horses or Cows, &c. that shall be stolen, wrongously taken out, or falling into any Accident whatsomever, but that the samin are upon the Inputter's Hazard allenarly.Edb. 1747 Ib. (19 May):
The Owners or Inputters of the Beasts, are to run all hazard during the Season.

II. n. 1. A share, quota or contribution of money, capital, etc., made for a specific purpose (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb.⁴ 1946), e.g. the entry- or prize-money in a horse-race or other sporting competition, the stakes; the “balance, in change of money” (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Also attrib.Sc. 1720 Caled. Mercury (26 June):
They are to stay there, and to be entred by the Town Clerk forty eight Hours before the Race, and the Inputs to be 6 Guineas amongst them.Dmf. 1726 Edb. Ev. Courant (25 July):
The Input Money of the Race for the Plate is to be run for by any Galloways not above 14 Hands High.Abd. 1766 G. Turreff Gleanings (1871) 268:
There will be inputs [for prizes] on the spot for after races.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xii.:
An' ilka friend wad bear a share o' the burden, something might be dune — ilka ane to be liable for their ain input.Fif. 1839 Edb. Ev. Courant (19 Oct.):
On Friday, the Society's medal was played for, and won by Mr John Wood of Leith, again at 99 strokes. “The in-puts” were carried by Allan Robertson, St Andrews.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 88:
His father ga' 'im a fair in-pit t' that chop.Ork.⁵ 1958:
An inpit waddin, an old-time wedding to which the guests contributed, the women bringing the cakes and the men the whisky.

2. Fig. Assistance, help, influence (Bnff. 1866). Gregor D. Bnff. 88.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 97:
Quo' he, “ye canna better do than try; Ye's hae my in-put to mak him comply”.

3. A favour which incurs goodwill; “the gaining of a footing in the favour of a person or group” (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.); a good turn which may be later returned by the recipient (Abd.⁷ 1925).

4. A wrong course of action maliciously prompted by another (Abd. 1825 Jam.).

5. The feeding of children (Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne) 75). Cf. I. 2.

6. Pl. Goods contributed to an auction sale by others than the chief seller (Ork. 1958).s.Sc. 1949 Scotsman (7 May):
Inputs. — Field Marshall Tractor on rubbers (1947), Long Cart, Short Cart, Horse Rake.