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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

THAFT, n. Also thaff (Fif.) and Sh. forms ta(a)ft, ¶toft (Sh. 1881 in A. Halcrow Sail Fishermen (1950) 169). Sc. forms and usage of Eng., now n. dial., thoft. See P.L.D. § 54 and T, letter, 9. A rower's seat or bench in a boat, a thwart (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh. (taft), Ork., n. and e.Sc. 1972). Each thaft had its designation, as eft t(h)aft (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), efteran- (Bnff. 1930), the bench nearest the stern, fore-thaft, the bench nearest the bow (Id.), midship- (Id.), skair-, the one next to the eft thaft. [θɑft; Sh. tɑft]Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Description 512:
He took Hackie aff o' da skair taft.Ork. 1824 P. Ork. A. S. X. 52:
Rudders and thaft, 3½d. per lb.Bnff. 1847 A. Cumming Tales 79:
He was leaning over the thaft with his back to the land.Fif. 1862 St Andrews Gaz. (27 Dec.):
Supported by two oars and a thaft.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (3 June):
He laid da peerie taft across da haanks o' da fowereen.Mry. 1914 Trans. Bnff. Field Club 24:
In the coble, however, there are thafts and not baaks.Ork. 1951 R. Rendall Ork. Variants 12:
Tae sit apae a thaft and lift an oar.Sh. 1956 U. Venables Life in Shet. v.:
The four Papa men on the tafts.