Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1771-1894
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†MERIDIAN, n. Sc. usage: a social midday drink, esp. among business and professional men. Also attrib. Now hist.Gsw. 1771 in G. MacGregor Hist. Gsw. (1881) 352:
It is customary also to take what is called a meridian, or a pint of ale and a salt herring, about one.Mry. 1804 R. Couper Poetry II. 12:
Ware twa drunk skippers at their prog . . . To quarrel oure meridian grog.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xx.:
This gentleman, that has shown himself a gentleman at breakfast, and will show himself a gentleman at the meridian.Edb. 1825 R. Chambers Traditions 245:
It was then the custom of all the shopkeepers in Edinburgh to drink what they called their meridian. This was a very moderate debauch, — consisting only in a glass of usquebaugh and a draught of small ale.wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 451:
A Banker in Glasgow, equally well known for his wealth and miserly habits, was addicted to taking a dram of whisky in the morning, and another at mid-day; in Scotch phrase, his morning and meridian.Per. 1894 H. Haliburton Furth in Field 57:
Strolled into a neighbouring tavern for his meridian at the summons of the dram-bell.
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"Meridian n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/meridian>
