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.

SCONCE, v.³ To cheat, to impose upon, get by false pretences, extort fraudulently (Ags. 1825 Jam.); to jilt a woman (Slg. 1825 Jam.). Vbl.n. sconcing, scuntion. cheating, fraud, specif. of getting drink as in 1774 quot. Orig. Eng. slang but now rare or dial. esp. Uls.Sc. 1774 Weekly Mag. (29 Sept.) 31:
The crime of which he was convicted, is that of sconcing, or going into houses, calling for drink, and then going off without paying anything for it.Gall. 1796 J. Lauderdale Poems 66:
Ye act for me, An' paum, an' cog, an' sconce, an' lie.Ags. 1934 G. M. Martin Dundee Worthies 178:
In the game of knuckely (at bools) “nae scuntion” was allowed, inferring that the knuckles of the shooter had to remain on the edge of the kerbstone when delivering his shot.