Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BACKSTANE, -STAEN, -STONE, BAKSTEN, n. [′bak′sten, ′bɑk-]

1. A stone set on edge at the back of a fireplace.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Sh. Fireside Tales (1892) 41:
Against the gable wall . . . stood the back stane.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Baksten, stone (set on edge) forming the back of the hearth. Phrase: as black as de baksten.Sh.(D) 1916 Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr Maerch 1:
A pessimist is a body 'at aye glouwers at da backstaen.

2. A broad stone or projecting part of the wall at the back of the fireplace (Sh., Ork. 1975).Ags. 1860 A. Whamond James Tacket 18:
The fire burned on a broad flat stone, and behind it was placed another stone, called the back-stone, placed there to prevent the turf gable from taking fire.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 38:
Backstane — A large broad stone, placed behind those good peat fires which burn on hearths, not in grates . . . it is no strange thing to see a wearied “herd,” in the winter, taking a sleep sometimes on the backstane, as that stone is always thick enough to be a seat.Uls.² 1929:
‡Back-stone, a stone or portion of the wall at the back of the fireplace in cottages and farm-houses that projects a few inches beyond remaining portion of wall.