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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SEND, v., n. Also sen, ¶sehn, †sane, †sene.

Sc. usages. [I., em. and s.Sc. sɛnd; n. and wm.Sc. sɛn]

I. v.

Sc. form of Eng. send.Arg. 1998 Angus Martin The Song of the Quern 56:
Twa brithers on a Mey moor
an no a leevin sowl near
cuttin peats withoot a care
layin yerds o bink bare.
They stapped fir tea an crack, an wan
scrieved a not wi a bleckened han
an pushed it deep as he could sen
it through the moss on a cromack's en.w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 11:
Zis heat no terrible hen.
Sen ye roun the ben
so it wid!
It plays hell wi ma puir feet,
aa this trauchlan up the street
an near made me want to greet,
so it did!

Sc. usages:

As in Eng. Phr. a sent errand, a message or commission entrusted to another to carry out.Sh. 1931 J. Nicolson Incidents 41:
When two or three girls from one place went to Lerwick to dispose of the hosiery they had knitted during the winter, the number of “sent” errands with which they were commissioned usually exceeded their own by far.

II. n. 1. A message, a summons or intimation sent, also send-up, send down, acc. to the position of the sender (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1746 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 172:
When ordered the 22nd Septr. to load corn at 9, did not come till after 12 by 2d send.Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 124:
I never sit your send — deny your summons — refuse your invitation.Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 72:
He mony a time sent up a sane.Sc. 1825 The Gay Goshawk in Child Ballads No. 96 C. x.:
Ye're bidden send your love a send, For he has sent you twa.Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 113:
Ae nicht there was a send for me to gang to the manse.

2. A messenger sent ahead of a bridegroom at a wedding to summon the bride (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 266).Abd. c.1770 Garland of Bon-Accord (1886) 29:
Wi' that the sends tak' to their heels . . . They left the women jist like feels.Sc. 1828 Fair Janet in Child Ballads No. 64 F. xv.:
It's nae time for brides to lye in bed, When the bridegroom's send's in town.Per. 1830 Perthshire Advert. (4 Nov.):
The bridegroom despatched six, eight, ten, and sometimes twelve of his friends, all young men, for the bride; these were termed the send, and their duty consisted in leading the bride, and taking care that she sustained no harm until she was placed under the protection of her husband. When these arrived the bride's-maid adorned the left breast of their coats, by fixing on them bows of ribbons.Abd. 1871 N. & Q. (Ser. 4) vii. 55:
The marriage usually takes place at the house of the bride's father, to which it is customary for the bride-groom to walk on foot, supported by two “groom's maids,” and friends who have accepted his invitation to be present at the ceremony. Just as the procession starts two young men, selected from the bridegroom's party, who are designated sens, hurry off to apprise the bride of his approach. The message delivered to the bride was as follows: “The bridegroom presents his compliments, and requests us to say that he will soon be here”.