▪ I. scart, n.1 Sc.
(skɑːt)
Forms: 5, 9 scarth, 6 skarth, 8–9 skart, 7– scart. See also scrath.
[The forms scarth, scart, are successive corruptions of scarf n.]
The Cormorant, Phalocrocorax carbo. Also applied to the Shag, P. graculus.
| c 1450 Holland Howlat 181 The Scarth a fische fangar, And that a perfyte. 1513 Douglas æneis v. iii. 49 A standand place quhar skarthis with ther beikis..glaidlie thaim pronȝe and bekis. 1710 Sibbald Hist. Fife & Kinross 45 The Fowls which most frequent the Bass are the..Scarts [etc.]. 1816 Scott Antiq. viii, D'ye think ye'll help them wi' skirling that gate like an auld skart before a flaw o' weather? 1852 J. Wilson in Blackw. Mag. LXXII. 395 He sits a cormorant on the tree of life... A scarth—not an eagle—not a swan. 1892 Black Three Feathers 183 The black rocks basked in the sunlight, the big skarts standing on their ledges, not moving a feather. |
▪ II. scart, n.2 Sc.
(skart)
[Metathesis of scrat n.]
1. A scratch.
| a 1585 Polwart Flyting w. Montgomerie 555 With scartes and scores, athort his frozen front. 1718 Ramsay Christ's Kirk Gr. iii. xvii, Wi' her nails she rave his face, Made a' his black baird bloody Wi' scarts that day. 1871 C. Gibbon Lack of Gold xi, Folk never see a scart on their ain backs. 1897 Crockett Lad's Love xxvii. 266 It never does to mislippen the scart o' a pin on the thickest skull. |
2. A mark made by a pen.
| 1824 Scott St. Ronan's iii, What signified, she said, a wheen bits of paper, wi' black and white scarts upon them, that he ca'd bushes, and trees, and craigs? 1861 Ramsay Remin. Ser. ii. 122 He has nayther comed himsel', nor had the ceevility tae sen' us the scart o' a pen. |
▪ III. scart, n.3 rare.
(skɑːt)
[? var. of scat n.]
A gust, puff (of wind); a strip (of cloud).
| 1860 G. H. Kingsley in F. Galton Vac. Tour 127 Donald, who assures me that some day a scart of wind will snatch the paper out of my hand. 1899 Pall Mall Mag. Apr. 568 The gusty wind blew thin wisps and scarts of cloud athwart the sharp hooks of the crescent moon. |
▪ IV. scart, v. Sc.
(skart)
Also, 4, 6, 9 skart.
[Metathesis of scrat v.]
1. trans. To scratch, scrape. Also absol.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xxvii. (Machor) 249 With hyre handis [she] skartyt hir face. 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 93 To see him scart his awin skyn grit scunner I think. 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 36 With skarting [scho] causit hir face to bleid. 1821 Scott Pirate xv, Ye scart the land with a bit thing ye ca' a pleugh. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister 75, I fand the hoose, by scartin' a match an' readin' the plate on the gate. |
† 2. To gather together carefully. Also absol.
| 1629 Mure True Crucifixe 2573 If Loue of Money,..Moue thee to scrape, to scart, to pinch, to spare. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. i. ii, And syne the fool-thing is obliged to fast, Or scart anither's leavings at the last. |
† 3. trans. To scribble. Obs. rare—1.
| 1826 J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 144 I've skarted some odds and ends wi' the keelivine on brown paper. |
Hence ˈscarted ppl. a., scribble over.
| 1814 Scott Wav. lxv, And what use has my father for a whin bits o' scarted paper? |