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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GENTRICE, n. Also gentries. Now only liter. [′dʒɛntrɪs]

1. Good birth, good breeding, gentility.Sc. 1722 Ramsay Three Bonnets 10:
In Troth my rugged Billy Bristle About his Gentries makes sic fistle.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 203:
He's proud an' clanish, an' can naething thole That in his gentrice looks to bore a hole.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet, Letter xi.:
But I am ane that ken full weel that ye may wear good claithes, and have a soft hand, and yet that may come of idleness as weel as gentrice.Fif. 1825 Jam.:
I wadna put it in his gentrice. [I wouldn't credit him with so much good breeding.]Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxvi.:
Did ye ever hear that gentrice put money in folk's pockets?Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xviii.:
It's yer fine sense o' gentrice that taigles ye that ye canna tak' a drink o' guid sweet milk till ye hae wakened the goodman o' the hoose frae his bed to introduce ye to the coo!m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xvii.:
And your brither ministers, wha are maistly cotters' sons, wad be fleyed by her gentrice.

2. People of good birth or breeding; gentry.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xviii.:
We're honest, honest — and gentrice to the back o' that.m.Sc. 1898 J. Buchan J. Burnet iii. xvii.:
The Baillies are aye gentrice and hae nae trokins wi' sic blaggard tinklers.Arg. 1901 N. Munro Doom Castle xii.:
She took the goodman to the castle, though a dumb dog he is among gentrice.Sc. 1929 Scots Mag. (June) 207:
Ploomen and gentrice, they're a' the same.m.Sc. 1952 T. Johnston Memories 105:
They were persuaded by some of the sporting gentrice to refuse to have anything to do with the road.