Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DAN, Dann, adv. Sh. and Ork. forms of Eng. then (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., dann). Freq. found in phr. dan-a-days, in those days. See P.L.D. § 165. Cf. Den, adv.Sh. 1928 T. M. M. Shewan in Manson's Sh. Almanac 187:
Dan-a-days we didna tink muckle ipo' wark.Sh. 1991 William J. Tait in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 45:
An hert an sowl an boady seem
Pickit wi aa da bloed an ime
O history: dan sometimes I mind,
As veevly as I mind da sea,
Sunlycht an shedow o dy een,
An aa da sunlycht meant tae me. Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 29:
Dey laekly lippened a lecture
But I stöd an I minded mesell
Younger as her, but dan, on a croft -
You come tae reality younger. Sh. 1994 Laureen Johnson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 164:
Da faces in da car wis aa lookin up at da hoose. Dey solisted a meenit, dan a blue-cled wife got oot, an da car set aff fer da nordert.Ork. 1908 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 222:
Da Market waas a grand affair dan-a-days.