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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHOUT, v., n. Also shoot (Gall. a.1897 R. Ringan's Plewman Cracks 10), †schout (Jam.), shut (Sh. 1898 Shetland News (25 June); shuit (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); shute (Sc. 1769 D. Herd Sc. Songs 240). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. shout. [ʃut]

1. tr. To shout at, to greet with cries or shouts (of welcome or derision). Also to alert (someone) about something. Orig. Sc., from 1375, and rare and obs. in Eng.m.Lth. 1856 J. Ballantine Poems 54:
Loudly an' blithely the bairnies did shout him.Gsw. 1869 E. Johnston Poems 123:
We'll shout rhyming Nell, and mak' her feel mad.Gsw. 1988 Michael Munro The Patter Another Blast 12:
Carndook A nickname for the Carnwadric area on the south side: 'Jump on a number forty-five tae Carndook an get the driver tae shout ye at Shawlands Cross.' Edb. 2004:
Ah'm away fur a nap - shout me when the veesitors arrive.

2. Of a woman: to be in labour, to give birth (Lnk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Kcb. 1970). Also in n.Eng. dial. Hence vbl.n. s(c)houting, shuitin, childbirth, parturition (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Lnk., s.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), a merry-making to celebrate the occasion. Comb. †shootin' cheese, a cheese eaten at this feast. Cf. Cry, in sim. usages.Rxb. 1806 J. Hogg Poems 82:
Were ye at Becka's shoutin', Sucky?s.Sc. c.1830 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club (1916) 86:
At the birth of a child, the gossips after having a good blow-out with merry-meat (meat that is so named on these occasions) orders the husband or father of the new-born child, to present his shootin'-cheese and cut the “whang of luck,” for the young unmarried women in the company.Fif. 1904 Caled. Med. Jnl. V. 185:
What time the short-bread and whisky (degenerate remains of the “shooten” and the “groanin'-maut”) are being looked forward to.