Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1708, 1838-1927
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SCRIBE, n.1, v. Also †scrib, skribe. [skrəib]
I. n. A mark made with a pen, a piece of writing, a written scrap, letter (Sh. 1969). Phr. scribe of a pen, id. (Uls. 1953 Traynor). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1708 Ravished Maid in the Wilderness 38:
There was not any of them had a scrib of a Pen against the Union till it was concluded.Kcb. 1903 Crockett Banner of Blue viii.:
Jeems Carlyle never wrote a scribe o' print, or hand-write either.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
We'r no hed a skribe frae Johni sin afore Yul.
II. v. To write. Vbl.n. scribing. Rare and dial. in Eng.Sc. 1838 Fraser's Mag. XVII. 322:
A writer scribing about Jeffery as if it was a living thing.Sc. 1882 Stevenson Fam. Studies (1888) 299:
The very line his own romantic self was scribing.Kcb. 1913 Crockett Sandy's Love Affair ii. xiii.:
Scribe me a line (private-like).m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood ix.:
There's never a post frae Embro but brings me Dobbie's scribin'.
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"Scribe n.1, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/scribe_n1_v>
