Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1774-1819
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OCCUPY, v. Also Sc. forms occupe(e) (Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.; Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 167); occkypee (Abd. 1875 G. Macdonald Malcolm lxi.).
Sc. usages: to employ, make use of (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 91); to be busy with, to employ oneself in. Obs. in Eng. since 16th c. [′ok(j)əpi]Abd. 1774 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' xv.:
Lasses, occupy your wheel, And strait the pin.Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays, etc. 310:
Gif he his trade would occupy, He might himself by that supply.
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"Occupy v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/occupy>
