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 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ALLOCAT(E), v. “Formerly only in Scottish writers; not in J[ohnson]” (N.E.D.). [′ɑlŏket]

1. To assign, to set apart for a special purpose; appoint, often in phr. allocate and appoint. (Note examples of old pa.p.)Sc. 1733 P. Lindsay Interest of Scotland 26:
This Meeting may then appoint and allocate such a Proportion of the Poors Money of each Parish, as the State of their Funds . . . may severally admit of, to be paid in [etc.].Slg. 1719 Records R. Burgh Stirling (1889) 159:
The five seats or dasks in the east end of the church under the gildries loft, severall years agoe allocate and appointed to the saids mechannicks for sitting in to hear the publick ordinances and worship of God.Rxb. 1716 St. Mary's Church in Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1914), 25:
The said incorporatione of weivers . . . hess allocat and appoynted Robert Jollie to keipe the key of the said loft doore.

2. Esp. “To fix the proportion due by each landholder in an augmentation of a minister's stipend; synon. to local” (Jam.²).Sc. 1717 Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 336:
I know well it may be said here that the stipend being a civil matter, mortified or legally allocate for this, comes properly under the cognizance of civil courts.Sc. 1773 Erskine Inst. Law Scot. (1828) I. 507:
The tithes, which are yet in the hands of the lay-titular, fall, in the second place, to be allocated.