Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1825-1828, 1882-1932
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RANSOM, n. Sc. usage: an exorbitant price or rent (Sc. 1904 E.D.D.). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
How can the puir live in thae times, when every thing's at sic a ransom.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch i.:
Grannie . . . sold the milk at the ransom of a ha'penny the mutchkin.Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 132:
Some said Sandy Mutch had taken the farm "at a ransom".e.Lth. 1896 J. Lumsden Poems 178:
Labour a ransom — seasons bad —.Abd. 1900 Weekly Free Press (20 Oct.):
"Did ever ony mortal hear tell o' sic an imposition?" "Deed, it's an awfu' ransom."Cai. 1904 E.D.D.:
To say that a thing was bought "at a ransom" . . . means that the buyer was under some necessity to purchase, and the seller, knowing that, took advantage of it.Dmb. 1932 A. J. Cronin Three Loves 352:
But the price of things. . . . It's shameful. Everything a ransom now.
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"Ransom n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ransom>
