Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MAR, v.1, n.1 Also marr; maar; mer(r); erron. mare (see I. 1. (2)). Sc. usages. [mɑr; Sh., s.Sc. mɛr]
I. v. 1. To obstruct, hinder, block, stand in the way of, intercept, stop (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Dmf. 1917; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., Mry., sm. and s.Sc., Uls. 1962). Obs. in Eng. Deriv. merrer, one whose duty is to block the path of animals while being driven (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Peb. 1711 C. B. Gunn Cross Kirk (1914) 59:
They . . . ordered a large foot to be cut off Lyne's seat, . . . so that no part of the public entry may be marred thereby.Sc. 1724 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) III. 129:
This story is trumped up or taken hold of to mar that transportation.Sc. 1811 J. Ramsay Acct. Curling 44:
If, in sweeping or otherwise, a running stone is marred by any of the party to which it belongs, it must be put off the ice.Sc. 1827 Carlyle Tieck's Elves II. 121:
“Then we shall see which of us is swifter.” “Done”, said Mary, and began to run; “for we shall not mar one another by the way”.Gsw. 1849 Chambers's Information II. 653:
If a bowl is accidentally marred by an opponent, it shall be in the option of the party playing to let it rest, or play it over again.e.Dmf.2 1917:
Merr that sheep.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 15:
Beide yow there an merr thir paips soomin doon the guitter.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 85:
Whaar wis I agen, doo mers me?
Hence combs. (1) marrboard, a board fixed to keep a moveable object in position, e.g. a door-check or a front fixed to a shelf or rack to keep the contents from falling off; a window-shutter; (2) mar-brow, only in ppl.adj. mer-browed, having the eye-brows meeting or growing together (Rxb. 1962). See Trans. Bnff. Field Club (1890) 57, where an erroneous explanation is given.(1) Abd. 1742 Powis Papers (S.C.) 285–6:
To . . . a Marrboard for fixing the Door Cheek at the Stair foot. . . . To 3 marr boards for the bottle Raks.Sh. 1954 New Shetlander No. 40. 7:
Kye njoagd, an stirred demsells i' da byres; fokk rekkit demsells, fur da maar-burds taald dem a da rivin a da dim.(2) Rxb. 1901 R. Murray Hawick 108:
He had only got as far as the old toll-house when he observed a mer-browed man coming in his direction.
2. Specif. Of the leader of a string of boys sliding on ice in a crouched position: to guide the file on a safe course by skilful use of his feet as brakes or rudder (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Vbl.n. merreen, the action of guiding skaters; agent n. merrer, the leader of the file (Id.).Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 14:
Sic a byordnar grand bit for a sledge-skly or a yoke-a-tuillie! By!! The gaird wad need ti bei richt an skeely at the merreen.
3. To annoy, put about, inconvenience; confuse (Ork. 1958; Cai., Lnk. 1962).Cai. 1949:
A'm no muckle marred.
II. n. 1. An obstruction, a hindrance (Sh., Lnk. 1962). Obs. in Eng.Gsw. 1721 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 114:
The eastwall of the fleshmercat on the side of the Candlerig Street . . . is not straight, which may be a marr and hinderance in the streighting of the new street.Ayr. c.1825 J. McMillan Poet. Wks. 79:
I canna tell what was the mar, But it was sae forbid.
2. Specif.: an impediment in speech.Dmf. 1786 Session Papers, Jardine v. De la Motte (27 Sept.) 20:
[He] did not think she spoke so freely, but seemed to have a mar in her voice.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 338:
Maunt — To speak thick and fast; to have a marr in the speech.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Mar v.1, n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/mar_v1_n1>