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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TASTE, v., n. Also taest (Sh. 1897 Shetland News (5 June, 2 Oct.)); †teist (Abd. 1825 Jam.). Sc. forms and usases:

I. v. 1. intr. or absol. to drink liquor in small amounts, to have a tipple, to “imbibe” (Sc. 1910 N.E.D.). Gen.Sc. Vbl.n. tastin (dim. -ie), the drinking of drams, a dram of liquor. Gen.Sc.Abd. 1779 Aberdeen Jnl. (16 Aug.):
Temptations landlords are commonly liable to, of tasting with every friend that calls.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. xiv.:
He pressed my grandfather to taste.Per. 1830 Per. Advertiser (22 April):
Panel was a little the worse of liquor, and deceased had been tasting.Abd. 1836 Abd. Shaver (Jan.) 127:
Come in an' tak a tastin' wi's.Edb. 1876 J. Smith Archie and Bess 59:
Ye'll no taste, or gang into a show, or enjoy yersel' in ony way.Ags. 1894 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xviii.:
There was a taststin' gaun.Slk. 1901 C. Thomson Drummeldale 70:
All contracts, settlements, and old friendships had to be sealed with a tastin'.Dmf. 1912 J. Hyslop Echoes 210:
In the end “tasting” at funerals was abandoned by consent.Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 197:
I never taste. I never take whisky.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 56:
The game proceeded after each had had a “tasteen”.Abd. 1954 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick i.:
A wee tastinie o' the fuskie be wye o' hirin.

2. To cause a pleasant taste in the mouth, to affect the palate agreeably, to stimulate the appetite, to give relish to one, esp. in phrs. to taste the gab, hert, mouth, etc. (Ork., n.Sc., Slg., Fif., w.Lth., wm.Sc., Kcb., Rxb. 1972). Hence taster, something which gives taste or relish, a drink, dram.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) I. 115:
Wanting something to taste their mouth.Slg. 1788 G. Galloway Poems (1792) 31:
I kik'd a saxpence frae my master, Then hous'd to get a morning taster.m.Lth. 1811 H. MacNeill Bygane Times 7:
Good fat Geese and Turkies dainty To taste our gabs.Ags. 1834 A. Smart Rhymes 89:
Our bonny eggs, o' ilka hue, To charm the e'e an' taste the mou'.Abd. 1944 C. Gavin Mt. of Light iii. i.:
Now that's a pie will taste oor herts.Mry. 1954 Bulletin (2 Feb.) 4:
We have been putting oats through the hammer mill and the resulting mash “tastes their hearts.”Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 138:
Kirsty made him his pieces for tae taste his mooth on the lang journey hame, and he wis fair excited as he stepped ontae the carriage of the train.

3. Fig. To relish, enjoy, appreciate. Now arch. or dial, in Eng.Sc. 1791 Boswell Johnson (1896) III. 184:
If I wondered at Johnson's not tasting the works of Mason and Gray, still more have I wondered at their not tasting his works.Per. 1896 I. MacLaren Kate Carnegie 33:
The story was much tasted by our guard's admirers.

II. n. 1. As in Eng. Deriv. tastesome, pleasant to the taste, appetising. Rare and obs. in Eng. Phr. to feel the taste o' one's mouth, to satisfy one's appetite, to have an enjoyable meal; to lose taste o, to lose interest or liking for (a person or thing or activity) (Ork., n.Sc., Ags., Per. 1972). Also tist. Sc. form of Eng. taste.Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 199:
Cut it thick: oor yinds like tae feel the taste o' their mooths.Sc. 1937 Oor Mither Tongue (MacWhannell) 67:
They brocht him syrups and denty fare Tastesome bites frae a skilly wife.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 62:
" ... Weel weel, id cheust shaws on that men is all the sam'. Thir all dirts. I kinno say I admire thee tist, bit if thoo prefer Chloe tae me thoo kin hiv her. ... "Abd. 1960:
Efter he did that tae me, I lost aa taste o'm.

2. A small quantity of alcoholic drink, a dram (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 271; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. and Ir. dial.Lnk. 1880 Clydesdale Readings 226:
Ony place whaur a body wad he likely tae get a taste.Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems 223:
He likes his bit taste, like the lave o' us.Abd. 1920 G. P. Dunbar Peat Reek 37:
At supper time the maister steppit ben an' gied's a taste.Ags. 1926 J. M. Smith House in West End 14:
We'll have a wee taste wine, Ruth, in honour of the occasion.

3. By extension: a small quantity of anything, a dab, lick, spot (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., a taste o' matches, 1953 Traynor; Sh., ne.Sc., em.Sc.(a), w.Lth., Lnk., Kch. 1972); “a handful” (Abd. 1825 Jam., teist).Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 17:
I gied a wee taste o' polish to their hooves.