Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1795, 1880-1915
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CHARITY, n.
1. (See quot.)Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
A person who is deserving of charity is said to be a "great charity."
2. The money for a church collection.Abd.14 1915:
Hae ye yer charity wi' ye?
3. An extra amount given to a purchaser by way of discount. Hence ppl.adj. charitat, with an addition thrown into the bargain, esp. in sales of grain [O.Sc. cheretit, id., 1561]. Bnff. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XII. 149 note:
Besides the rent of the houses, the land paid, in the end of the last century, 6 bolls charitat bear, that is, 6 bolls, 6 pecks barley, yearly.Abd. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 VI. 231:
When grain of any kind is sold with the straw, by the uniform practice of the country, the purchaser has the proof, which is the twentieth part of the stock, and a peck to each boll; these are called the Charities.
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"Charity n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/charity>
