Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FIRST, adj. Also firs (Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes (1892) viii.); furst (Sc. 1711 Speech for Mr Dundasse 6). See P.L.D. § 58.1.

Sc. form of Eng. first. Sc. 1991 T. S. Law in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 33:
A whylsin back that wasnae faur
as haednae seen the furst new caur ... wm.Sc. 1991 Liz Lochhead Bagpipe Muzak 4:
But as the Judges retired
To do what was required
And pick the furst, second and thurdm.Sc. 1994 Martin Bowman and Bill Findlay Forever Yours, Marie-Lou 6:
It's the furst thing ye'll tell yir mither aboot the morra...

Sc. usages:

1. In dates, preceded by the name of a day of the week: next, immediately following (Sc. 1811 Edb. Annual Reg. IV. ii. lxxii.). Gen.Sc.Gsw. 1890 Gsw. Herald (24 March) 1:
Tickets for the Special Service in the Cathedral, on Thursday first.Uls. 1904 Wkly. Irish Times (17 Sept.):
In Ulster “next Monday” is “Monday first.”

2. In combs.: (1) first †flat, — floor, the ground floor of a house (Abd.²⁷, Arg.³ 1950); (2) first o(f) Luke, a fair formerly held in Perth, orig. in the first hail ouk [first complete week] of March, of which the name is a corruption.(1) Abd. 1760 Abd. Journal (15 Dec.):
It contains upon the Ground or first Flat, one Kitchen; IId Flat, two good Bedrooms.Sc. 1861 Stephens & Burn Farm Buildings 539:
In Scotland the “first floor” is the ground floor; in England the term is used to designate the “bedroom” or “second floor” plan.(2) Per. 1890 J. D. Marwick Markets and Fairs 99:
There were . . . six great fairs or markets in the course of the year, (1) the first of Luke held on the first Friday of March. The right to hold this market or fair was granted by Charles on his visit to Perth in 1633.