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: 1804-1821, 1879-1894
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SOUT, n., v. Also soutt, †sott (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.), sowt. [sʌut]
I. n. A sudden leap, bounce, start, jolt or bump such as when a plough strikes against a stone (Gall. 1825 Jam., Gall. 1971); transf., such a stone (Ayr. 1930; Gall. 1971).Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poetry I. 193:
The hard-han'd plowman minds nae soutts.Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 156:
Sout, a leap, applied when the plough leaps up by striking a hidden stone. Also used when on a haystack. "Give it a sout" — i.e., leap up so as to press it down.
II. v. 1. To jolt, jar, bounce, as a plough does when it strikes against a stone (Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poetry II. 302, sowt).
2. To shake or heave convulsively with sobs (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.).Ags. 1821 in A. Lowson J. Guidfollow (1890) 234:
She soutin said, "I've lost a lad, Wha lo'ed me lang an' leal."Ags. 1879 Forfar Poets (Fenton) 147:
She sat an soutit i' the nook.
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"Sout n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sout>
