Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CONVERSATION, n. Elliptical for conversation sweet or lozenge, a flat sweet of varying shape with a motto inscribed on it (Bnff.², Abd.²², Ags.², Lnk.³ 1937).Sc. 1925 R. Fleming in Scots Mag. (March) 472:
Syne the American chap gies me a hairtshapit sweetie . . . an' again I ripes my pouch an' brings oot a roun' conversation, an' it says — “Ask me another.”Slg. 1896 W. Harvey Kennethcrook 41:
The centre was occupied by pan-drops, peppermints, conversations, and other sweets.Edb. 1938 Fred Urquhart Time Will Knit (1988) 106:
... he was that nervous and excited that when the first turn finished and he began to clap he knocked the parcel off his knee, and all the conversation sweeties and ju-jubes scattered.