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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

REED, n.2, v.

I. n. 1. The direction of the grain in wood, stone (Uls. a.1908 Traynor (1953); Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; m.Lth., Lnk., Kcb. 1968) or metal.Arg. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XIV. 233:
Slow growth makes timber fine in the reed.
Dmf. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 IV. 340:
Place the holes and the wedges parallel with the reed or grain of the stone.
Arg. 1841 T. Agnew Poet Wks. 91:
Ye'll find them most confounded tough Across the reed.
Lnk. 1852 Justiciary Reports (1855) 103:
The principle of construction brings the strain across the reed of the iron, instead of in a line with the reed. . . . The strain is across the rivets, the reed of iron runs longwise, the strain crosses that, which is wrong.
Lnk. 1916 Econ. Geol. Cent. Coalfield V. 129:
The structure — a double set of splitting planes known as “reed” . . . . The whinstone in the quarry 200 yards north-west of Burnhead is said to have more “reed” than the stone in the quarry south-west of this place; it will not readily break across the direction of the “reed”, and is therefore well suited for the manufacture of large kerbstones.
Sc. 1936 St. Andrews Cit. (11 Jan.) 11:
Before a man can be expert in breaking a big stone with a hammer, he must be able to detect which way the actual reed or grain of the stone runs.
Uls. 1953 Traynor:
Larch has four reeds in it, oak has only two — meaning the grain which showed how it should be planed.

2. The line in a coal seam along which the strata of the coal split off, the cleavage plane or parting (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 54; m.Lth. 1968). Also in Eng. mining usage.Lth. 1762 Session Papers, Drummond v. Ferrier (22 Jan.) 29:
In case the Clay Backs and Cutters shall fail, and the Coal turn black and clean in the Reed.
Fif. c.1890:
The coal that is got on the reed came off in scales. It was small coal and less valuable for commercial purposes.
m.Sc. 1937 Econ. Geol. Central Coalfield I. 104:
One of them is the plane in which the rock splits most easily, and this is called the “reed”.

3. A defect in a lead pipe running longitudinally and caused by faulty moulding (wm.Sc. 1968). Hence reedie, of a lead pipe: liable to split along this defective line (Per., Slg., Lnk. 1968).

II. v. 1. Of the grain of wood: to run in the right direction (Per. 1968); fig. of plants: to be placed in the correct formation (Id.).

2. Of a lead pipe: to split longitudinally (see 3. above) (wm.Sc. 1968).

[Orig. obscure. Phs. an extended usage of Reed, n.1]

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"Reed n.2, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/reed_n2_v>

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