Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1729, 1789-1933, 1993
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IDLESET, n., adj. Also -sett; -seat, -seet, -ceit (ne.Sc.); idlesee; eedlesee (Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 56), -say, -sey (Sh.). [Sc. ′əidlsɛt; Abd. ′əidlsi(t)]
I. n. 1. Idleness, laziness, reluctance to work (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 278; Sh. (-sey), Mry., Bnff., Abd. (-seat), Ags., Fif., m.Lth., Kcb.1958).Edb. 1789 A. Steele Shepherd's Wedding 18:
For idleset will seldom, now-a-days, Fill folks wame, or cleed their back wi claithes.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xciii.:
Nobody says or thinks that it was idleset which brought you to the lone.Sc. 1849 M. Oliphant M. Maitland xxiii.:
There was want among them oftentimes, idleset and wastry being near friends.Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie xxxiv.:
And here am I . . . sittin' here in idleseat, wi' my fire, an' my brose, an' my bible.Fif. 1895 S. Tytler Kincaid's Widow xvii.:
I have been spiled by the lang years of idle-set and luxury in the town.Sc. 1897 Stevenson W. of Hermiston iii.:
Ye'll have to find some kind of a trade, for I'll never support ye in idleset.Kcd. 1933 L. G. Gibbon Cloud Howe 252:
His father . . . would glunch and glare at every bit mouthful he saw his son eat — his hands had never held idleceit's bread.Abd. 1993:
I'm jist livin a life o idleseet since I cam hame fae e hospital.
2. Want of work, unemployment (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 9; wm.Sc., Rxb. 1958).Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxvii.:
To me the period o' bridegroomhood was onything but a sizzen o' idleset, . . . I was keepit trottin' here an' there an' back an' fore.Lnk. 1886 Sc. Readings (Murdoch) 88:
The bailies are no subject to idle-sets, like puir working-men.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 27:
Grants and doles, Baith for idleset and sickness.Abd.15 1928:
It's jist idlesee that ails the beast.
3. A period of enforced unemployment.Ayr. 1729 Chambers's Jnl. (28 May 1836) 143:
It is enacted, that there be an idlesett of the whole trade, beginning the 22nd of December, to last till Candlemas.
II. adj. Idle, disposed to idleness (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd.4 1930).Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl. 55:
The horse was kept idleset.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 80:
Dubbies wis a driver an' keepit nae idleseet fowk aboot's place.
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"Idleset n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/idleset>
