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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

‡SCULT, v., n. Also skult; scoult (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.), scolt; misprinted scull. [skʌlt]

I. v. 1. To strike with the palm of the hand, to slap, smack, spank (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 156, 1808 Jam.; Bnff., Abd. 1904 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Ags. 1969). Vbl.n. scultin, a smacking, thrashing.Sc. 1706 Sc. Antiquary XII. 99:
I fear, an anes the Engleses has us on their Haunch, they'll skult us to purpose, for they hae mair pith to lay on, nor we to had aff.Ags. 1897 Arbroath Guide (27 March) 3:
As I've heard a mither say she'd garr'd her wean dae when she gae't a scultin.

2. To strike on (the palm), to cane, tawse (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Dmf. 1806 Scots Mag. (March) 206:
Neist took in han' my loofs to scult, An' rax me down frae Dux to Dult.

II. n. 1. A blow with the flat of the hand, a slap, a stroke with a cane or tawse on the hand (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 423; Slk. 1825 Jam.; Slg. 1910 Scotsman (12 Sept.); Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. XIII. 38; Kcd., Ags. 1969).Per. 1753 A. Nicol Rural Muse 25:
I'd lend my muse a hearty scult, And gar her trot.Abd. 1777 R. Forbes Ulysses 33:
Can Ajax count his sculls [sic] wi' me?Hdg. 1848 A. Somerville Autobiog. 28:
He went on until I had got six cuts (skults we called them) on each hand.Slg. 1885 A. Bain Education Slg. (1965) 245:
Twelve ‘scults' on back and bottom.Ags. 1889 Arbroath Guide (5 Oct.) 4:
Marg'et should ha'e gi'en the boddie a scult on the chafts.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 23:
For a' his aches an' waffin' duds, An' dreidour o' the scults an' scuds.

2. Transf. in dim. scultie, (1) a very thin flat barleymeal cake (Lnk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 157); (2) the game of handball or fives (Ags. 1930).