Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CANTRAG, n. “A festivity held to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of a couple” (Cai.⁴ c.1920; Cai.⁷ 1938). Also attrib. [′kɑntrɑg]Cai. 1921 J. Mowat in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. (1933) IX. i. 22:
The old wedding ceremony was the period for feasting and display. . . . To begin with, there was the “cantrag” or contract night, then the house-to-house visitation by the bride and bridegroom giving “the bids.”