Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BESOOTH, BESOUTH, prep. and adv. On or to the south. [bɪ′suθ]

1. prep.Sh.(D) 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 53:
“A'm pittin' dem ta da hill. Dey wir laid a slap apo' wir daeks yonder besooth da grind [gate],” Arty said.Mearns 1819 J. Burness Plays, Poems, etc. 134:
We now maun leave them for a wee, An' afterwards look back an' see, What luck they had besouth the Forth.Lnk. 1774 (3rd ed.) D. Graham Writings (1883) I. 98:
Besouth the town grow whins and bent.Ayr. 1786 Burns To W. Simpson vii.:
Or whare wild-meeting oceans boil Besouth Magellan. Followed by of:m.Sc. [1838] A. Rodger Poems and Songs (1897) 178:
And thundering Willie, besouth o' the Clyde.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xiv.:
Are there not Commissions of the Estates and of the Kirk appointed to judge the captured malefactors in Edinburgh and St Andrews, and gallows set on every burgh knowe besouth of Forth?

2. adv.Ags. 1901 W. J. Milne Reminisc. of an Old Boy 291:
Neist wis heard far besooth soondin' through Lownie Slack, The Dickmont-Law piper frae “durance” come back.