Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

MORTAR STANE, n.comb. A hollowed stone in which barley was pounded to remove the husks (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Also in n.Eng. dial. In the village of Fordyce in Banffshire, applied to a large stone popularly supposed to possess magical powers (see quot.) (Bnff. 1963).Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 283:
Davie Doytes, the Laird o' Loytes, Fell owre the mortar stane.Bnff. 1937 F. D. Carnell Old Sc. Custom 33:
In Fordyce, not far from Elgin, there is a great stone which is called “the mortar stane”. This, like the “cream” (q.v.) of a well, has peculiar properties for securing a husband for any local girl, so on the night of Hogmanay the men of the village take it with musical honours to the home of a girl on whom the choice has fallen and place it before her door. There the mortar stane remains for the following year and during that time she will certainly be married.