Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TARDS, n. Also taards, taurds, tawrds; targe. [tɑ:rdz; Rs., Inv., Mry. tɑrdʒ]

‡1. A leather strap with thongs at one end, used as an instrument of punishment in schools, the belt, tawse (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Rs., Inv., Mry., Bnff. 1958, targe).Abd. 1844 W. Thom Poems 123:
Our Wifie had always twenty scholars, one cat, one taurds, and one opinion.Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes xi.:
Tards was considered a more dignified word than tag.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb ix.:
A few strokes with the “tawrds” implanted on his palms.Kcd. 1900 W. Macgillivray Glengoyne I. 56:
Ean o' his squeel lathies feared for the tards.Rs. 1909 Scotsman (10 April):
The stroke of the tawse — “targe,” we called the implement — was a “pandie”.

2. Long shreds of weeds, vegetables, etc. (Mry. 1972).Abd. 1905 E.D.D.:
That parsley's nae half choppet; cut these muckle taurds wi' yer scissors.