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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RACE, n.¹, v. Also ¶ress. Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. A run, a journey at speed, the act of running, a short run before jumping, a short visit. Gen.Sc., obs. in Eng. Phrs. a hen's race, a very short distance (Uls. 1953 Traynor); to draw a race, to take a short run.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shep. (S.T.S.) 193:
For me, I soon sall take a rackless race, An' gae where I had never kend a face.Sc. 1810 Scott Lady of Lake i. v.:
The noble stag . . . Held westward with unwearied race, And left behind the panting chase.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shep. Cal. (1874) ii.:
Adamson's choler rising, . . . he drew a race and, running against the gaberlunzie, . . . made him fly heels-over-head down the hill.Uls. 1898 S. MacManus Bend of Road 205:
Padh's sister wouldn't go a hen's race from the house.Sc. 1914 N.E.D.:
If ye're to jump that, ye'll need to tak' a race.Arg. 1936 L. McInnes S. Kintyre 22:
I jist took a race tae the toon for the messages. Tak a race oot noo, but see ye dinna wait lang.m.Sc. 1939 James Barke The Land of the Leal (1987) 473:
'We'll be up in plenty o' time. I'd Aggie down a race. She was hoping to see you afore we went.'
'What's her news?'m.Sc. 1967:
A wee race up, a quick informal visit, a look in.Edb. 2004:
Ah'll gie ye a race by.

2. Combs.: (1) race-ca, the shout used to start a race; (2) race plate, the metal disc in the centre of a wheel which fits over the end of the axle-tree, hub-plate; (3) race time, break time at school (Arg. 1990s).(1) Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 34:
An whin Mansie gae the race-ca, they baith teuk wey. An the folk a' ran efter them, as gin hid been a sheep-ca'in'.(2) Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS.:
The extries an' wheels wis made o' timmer. . . . This point cam throu the wheel aboot sax inches an' the raceplate gaed in throu a hole in the point of the extrie.(3)Arg. 1992:
Take that for race-time. [said to him by his grandmother, of a bar of chocolate].

3. A passage along the side of a wall along which sheep are driven in single file for purposes of grading or separating (Bnff., Abd., Per., m.Lth. 1967).

4. Mining: a group or train of hutches coupled together (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 53; Fif. 1967). Also in Eng. mining usage.Fif. 1842 Children in Mines Report (2) 510:
Has to make 14 races before porridge-time; the distance is 300 fathoms from incline to pit-bottom; and 14 and 15 races between porridge and the time we take our pieces of bread; 14, 15 and 16 races afterwards.Sc. 1901 Scotsman (8 March) 5:
They were run into by a race of runaway hutches.

5. A full load of material carried in one journey, esp. as much water as can be carried at one time by one person, i.e. two pailfuls (Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS., 1904 E.D.D., ress; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 263; Fif. 1952). Cf. Fracht, Raik, n., 2. (2).Fif. 1887 S. Tytler Logie Town xxvii.:
I dare say, now, you can carry a race o' water from the burn . . . without aince standing still to draw breath.Fif. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
I brocht three race o' coal. I hae'd twa race o' corn for the mull and twa for the cornyaird.Knr. 1948 R. S. Young Kinross-shire 59:
He carried on a regular business in selling the water to Milnathort housewives. His price was one halfpenny a race, i.e. two stoups full.

6. A row, a number of units set in line (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1967). Cf. 4.

7. The section of a harvest field cut by three reapers working abreast (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1967).

8. The course or track of a boat at "ripper"-fishing (Abd. 1975). Also corruptly scarce. Abd. 1967:
In this type of fishing for cod, the boat is allowed to drift with the tide from one point to another, the distance between these being termed a 'scarce'.

II. v. Deriv. racer, 1. in comb. racer-horse, a race-horse; 2. a nickname given to a loose woman, the exact force of the application being uncertain.1. Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xiv.:
Gin ye come to the pairish o' Balmaghie ye will need the legs o' a racer horse.2. Ayr. 1785 Burns Holy Fair ix.:
There Racer Jess, an' twa-three whores, Are blinkin at the entry.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 76:
Young Andrew Mar o' Brechan-howe Cam' there to sell his filly, An', having little in his pow, Took up wi' racer Nelly.