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 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TERM, n. Also tairm (e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep Head 295), †tearme. Sc. forms and usages: one of the four days of the year legally marking the falling-due of certain payments, as rents, wages, etc., the settlement of business accounts, the commencement and expiry of leases, and ‡of contracts of employment, esp. on farms, corresp. to Eng. quarter-day. In Ork. the herd's term ran from 12 May till harvest. By Acts of 1690 and 1693 the Sc. term-days are Candlemas (2 Feb.), Whitsunday (15 May), Lammas (1 Aug.) and Martinmas (11 Nov.). In 1886 the removal terms for house occupancy were fixed by statute as 28 May and 28 Nov. and these are commonly spoken of as terms, or flittin terms (see Flittin), esp. in towns, the others being distinguished by being called the legal or money-terms. Combs. term-day, term-time, the day or period at which one term ends and the next begins.Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.s. (S.H.S.) 65:
The said Walter was not entered to the grass of the said roume till after the tearme of Whitesunday.Sc. 1741 Morison Decisions 15858:
The legal terms of the year are Whitsunday and Martinmass.Sc. 1774 Erskine Institute ii. vi. § 46:
Whitsunday is . . . the ordinary term of entry over the greatest part of Scotland, . . . The forty days before Whitsunday must be so computed as to include neither the term day, nor the day on which the warning was used.Lnl. 1800 Edb. Advertiser (7 Oct.):
Mills to be let . . . to be entered to at the term of Martinmas next.Ags. 1810 J. Paterson Poems 128:
Hard's the case when term-time comes.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian viii.:
On the very term-day when their ejection should have taken place.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvi.:
A week before the Whitsunday term of 1842 . . . “I'se sae naething mair aboot it till the term day's bye.”Per. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 65:
Here we're at our hin'most neep, An' term-time near.Ags. 1897 F. Mackenzie Northern Pine vii.:
When the term cam' roond telt the mistress I wasna bidin'.Gsw. 1904 H. Foulis Erchie i.:
An acquaintance that borrowed five shillin's frae ye at the Term.Rxb. 1914 Hawick News (31 July) 4:
Oo thocht o' gettin' yin at the tairm.Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 25:
Come term-time lat them flit 'at likes.Ags. 1921 V. Jacob Bonnie Joann 31:
A week, come Monday, brings the tairm.Sc. 1969 Sc. Law Agents Soc. Memo. Bk. 123:
Where any of the above removal days falls on a Sunday, the Monday following is considered the Term Day.

Phr. and deriv.: (1) term an(d) life, termin —, for all time, for ever and a day (Sh. 1972); (2) termlie, -y, (i) adj., occurring once in a term or at the expiry of a term, falling due in every term; (ii) adv., in each term, once in every term.(1) Lth. 1825 Jam.:
It will last termin life.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (28 May):
Der fa'n oot, an' sinder'd for term an' life.(2) (i) Sc. 1797 D. Hume Punishment of Crimes II. 388:
Our ordinary bonds of borrowed money, which bear a termly failzie, (as it is called), or stipulation of a certain sum upon failure of punctual payment of each term's interest.Sc. 1829 Scott Rob Roy Intro.:
Chapel Errock, where the tenants of the Duke were summoned to appear with their termly rents.(ii) Slg. 1701 Slg. Burgh Rec. (1889) 95:
The several good lawes and acts of parliament made against prophaneness, ane abstract of quhich is read in the churches termlie.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy ii.:
I would put it in order for you termly, or weekly, or daily.