Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SPEESHAL, adj. Also speeshul, -shull, speecial-, speshul. Sc. forms and usage of Eng. special (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii., 1928 Abd. Weekly Journal (23 Aug., 11 Oct.), speeshul(l), Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 156; speshul). Adv. (1) speeshally (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vi., 1912 G. Greig Mains's Wooin, 40, speecially); (2) specialies (Sc. 1904 E.D.D., 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. x.). Also in Eng. dial. Deriv. n. speesh'list (Abd. 1929 Sc. Readings (Paterson) 87). Sc. usage: applied in Scottish universities to indicate courses at an advanced level. Now specif. a second or, in some instances, third year class in any arts subject at St. Andrews University. [Sc. ′spiʃəl]Sc. c.1700 Stat. Acc.¹ XXI. (App. Sc. Univs.) 74:
Those [students] of the third class . . . learn ethics and general physics. The fourth and highest class completes their course with special physics and mathematics.Sc. 1966–67 Academic Report Univ. of St. Andrews 38:
Several Departments offer under the Ordinance a new class, the Intermediate Class, which forms a middle rung on the ladder which rises from the General Class to the Special Class. So the student who wishes can take, for example, General French in his first year, Intermediate French in his second (when he gets a break from being examined in June), and Special French in his third year.Sc. 1970 St. Andrews Univ. Cal. 146:
There shall be three Degree Examinations: the General Examination, the Special Examination, and the Honours Examination.