Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BEN(N)IBITER, Baenabider, Beni, n. (See quots.) [benɪ′bɪtər, -′bəitər]Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
baenabider, a dog.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
bennibiter.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Benibiter, bone-biter, bone-gnawer, tabu-word at sea for the dog . . . sometimes only beni.Sh. 1931 J. Nicolson Sh. Incidents and Tales 56:
Domestic animals likewise had their sea-names . . . the dog became da benibiter, or the bone biting one.
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"Benibiter n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 27 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bennibiter>
