Show Search Results Show Browse

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

VICTUAL, n. Also Sc. forms victuall; vittail (Sc. 1724 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) III. 163), vit(t)al, vittel, -le, veetle (Edb. 1897 C. Campbell Deilie Jock 137); wictuale (Sc. 1745 S.C. Misc. (1841) 415). [vɪtl] Sc. usage: corn, grain, sometimes also leguminous crops, a crop before or after harvesting (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 135, 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., vittle; Kcd., Slg., Lth. 1973). Hence deriv. victualler, n., one who deals in grain, a corn-merchant (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1700 Seafield Corresp. (S.H.S.) 287:
I know not yet what vituall is delivered.
Abd. 1722 Records Marischal Coll. (S.C.) 444:
Each master for himself and his servant, at the rate of six bolls victual per quarter, half bear half meal.
Sc. 1765 Caled. Mercury (25 March) 144:
Some Stacks of Victual, consisting of four stacks of oats, two of barley, two of pease and beans, and one of wheat.
Ayr. 1785 Burns 3rd Ep. to Lapraik vii.:
A' the vittel in the yard. An' theekit right.
Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. v.:
She has twelve bows sowing of victual.
Sc. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 I. 321:
The stipend consists of 42 bolls of victual, partly oats, partly meal and partly barley.
Ags. 1867 G. W. Donald Poems 69:
Maist fouk were fouchen wi' their crap: An' raised the vittel in a rap.
Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 41:
Nee winder if the're nee vital on the shaevs.
Kcb. 1896 Crockett Raiders xvi.:
In this place no victual grew.
Kcd. 1929 J. B. Philip Weelum o' the Manse vii.:
Ivry ither meenit a stack lichtit aboot him, an' he was like to be smored wi' his ain vittal.

Combs.: (1) Buchan vittal, see quot.; (2) victual-dealer, a grain-merchant, a grocer who sells meal and other cereals. The usage is now peculiar to Edinburgh; (3) victual-farm, rent paid in grain. See Ferm, n.1; (4) victual-house, a granary, esp. the grain-store of an estate; (5) victual merchant, = (2); (6) victual rent, = (3); (7) victual stipend, that part of a minister's stipend formerly paid in grain or the cash equivalent thereof; (8) victual teind, id. See Teind, n.1, 2. (52).(1) n.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Applied to meal of which the “twa part is aits, and the third bear”. Metaph. transferred to a person on whom one can place no dependence; as “He's Buchan vittal that”.
(2) Sc. 1801 Farmer's Mag. (Jan.) 28:
The profession of the farmer or the victual-dealer.
Edb. 1973 Edb. Directory 1210:
Victual Dealers: Brown, John S., 57 Great Junction Street.
(3) Sc. 1781 Caled. Mercury (31 Oct.):
The barony measure is large, and the victual-farm gives the highest prices.
(4) Kcd. 1699 Black Book Kcd. (1843) 92:
Balmakewan's victual house was broken in the second story in the easings of the gable.
Abd. 1748 Abd. Journal (20 Dec.):
As also reserving the Victual-House for holding the Victual and Farms of Elrick.
(5) Sc. 1801 Farmer's Mag. (Jan.) 28:
The farmer or victual merchant.
(6) Ags. 1708 Montrose Burgh Rec. MS. (12 Oct.):
The victual and money rents payable out of the bishops rents to the town.
Sc. 1722 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 174:
A full and compleat rentall of all your estate, both victuall and money rent.
(7) Fif. 1801 Edb. Weekly Jnl. (8 July) 216:
The Lands pay 24 bolls of victual stipend to the minister.
Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xlv.:
There was no knowing how long he might be in paying the next term's victual stipend.
Sc. 1925 Acts 15 & 16 Geo. V. c.33. s.1:
Every stipend which depends upon fluctuations in the price of victual (hereinafter in this Act referred to as “victual stipend”).

[O.Sc. wyttaille, corn, cereals, 1420, vittal hous, 1576, victual meall, 1579, victual rent, 1683.]

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Victual n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/victual>

28693

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: