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.

SKY, n.² Also ski. The part of the old Shetland and Orcadian single-stilted plough corresponding to the mould-board (Ork. 1814 J. Shirreff Agric. Ork. 51; I.Sc. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Also in combs. ear-sky, sky-ear, see Ear-sky, ivver-ski, millya-, nether-, see 1903 quot. and Iver. [skɑe]Ork. 1728 H. Marwick Merchant Lairds (1836) I. 135:
16 dozen good pleugs four dozen skys.Ork. 1734 P. Ork. A.S. I. 65:
Four ploughs, whereof three wanting Skys and lives.Sh. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VII. 585:
A square hole is cut through the lower end of the beam, and the mercal, a piece of oak about 22 inches long, introduced, which, at the other end, holds the sock and sky.Sh. 1808 Jam.:
Sky: a small board, about four inches in depth, used in the construction of the Shetland plough, in place of a mould-board. An old barrel-stave is generally used for this purpose.Ork. 1903 G. Marwick Old Roman Plough (1936) 9:
The pin next the sewch, or the lowest, is called the nether ski; this pin has to project two fingers' breadth below the wing of the markal pin. The next pin is the millya ski — a middle ski; the lower end of this pin must project three fingers' breadth below the markal pin. The next and last is the ivver-ski.