Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCARCEMENT, n. Also scarse-. [′skers-]

1. A plain horizontal set-off or rebate in a wall, as in the foundations of a house, or on the top of a gable used as a ledge on which to rest the ends of floor-joists or sarking-boards (Sc. 1952 Builder (20 June) 943). Gen.Sc.; any similar shelf or projection in a stone dyke, a mine-working, etc.Lnk. 1767 Session Papers, Petition J. Dickson (16 June) 2:
The scarcement above the bridge to be 18 inches broad, with a facing of three fail deep.Dmf. 1812 W. Singer Agric. Dmf. 152:
The Galloway dyke is measured at the grass, at what is called the first lift, where there is a scarcement left as a projecting base.Sc. 1839 D. Ure Dict. Arts 971:
If a strong bed of sandstone occurs, a scarcement of it is left projecting about 3 feet into the shaft.Sc. 1869 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 386:
The foundation should be gradually narrowed to the width of the superincumbent wall, by each successive course being diminished in width, forming thus a series of steps on each side of the wall. These steps are called footings, or scarcements, the latter being a general term in Scotland for any diminution in the thickness of a wall by an offset.Abd. 1923 W. D. Simpson Cas. Kildrummy 78:
The tower was four storeys high, and the offsets or scarcements for its two lowest floors, which were wooden, may still be seen.Gall. 1957 F. Rainsford-Hannay Dry Stone Walling 33:
Scarcement: The extra width at the base: that is, the difference between the width of the foundation and the width of the dyke at the grass. At least 2 inches on either side is necessary.

2. The edge of a ditch so cut as to form a ledge on which thorns or bushes may be planted (Sc. 1808 Jam.); the strip of grass between a made road and the wall or fence bounding it (Dmf. 1950).Sc. 1776 Kames Gentleman Farmer 255:
Leave eight or nine inches along a side of the intended ditch for a scarsement.Bwk. 1794 A. Lowe Agric. Bwk. 47:
A row of quicks, three or four years transplanted, is set on each side about six inches higher than the edge of the ditch, and nine inches back from it, so as to form a scarcement.Per. 1845 Sc. Farmer (Dec.) 325:
The turf built up like a straight wall, leaving about a foot of scarsement on each side, which prevents the ditch from mouldering down with the frost.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. i.:
It [a drain] wis ta'en oot wi' a peat spad an' that left a scarsement o' three inches on baith sides. After that they laid a close row o' dirrum sods on the scarsement.

3. A natural ledge or flat shelf on the face of a rock (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 421; Kcb. 1969).