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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

FOUTH, n., adj. Also footh, fowth, fouthe. [Sc. fu:θ, ne.Sc. + fʌuθ]

I. n. Abundance, plenty, fullness, a full or ample amount or supply (‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Add.; I. and ne.Sc., Ags. 1953). Dim. fouthy (Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 125). Also in n.Eng. dial. For a-fouth, in plenty, see Afouth. †Used adv. with this meaning in 1721 quot.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 353:
When the Wind is in the South, Rain will be fouth.Abd. 1755 R. Forbes Shop Bill 37:
An' first o' hose I hae a fouth, . . . An' some o' our ain quintry grouth.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 78:
Not Covent-garden, clad sae braw, Mair fouth o' herbs can eithly shaw.Ayr. 1789 Burns Capt. Grose's Peregrinations vi.:
He has a fouth o' auld nick-nackets.Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 54:
For a' the ills that mark our wretched lot, (And we poor tods hae fouth o' them I wot).Per. a.1838 R. Nicoll Poems (1842) 17:
The earth has fouth o' trusty hearts.Bwk. 1863 A. Steel Poems 113:
And freely dealt to a' a footh O' blame or praise.Ork. 1905 Dennison Ork. Weddings 33:
A fouth o' girse an' a fouth o' corn, A fu' cog an' frothing horn.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 23:
He'd fouth o' fare, an' that the vera best.Abd. 1929 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 130:
At a craft there's nae muckle fouth o' ready siller.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 23:
"Wi awthin that yer sowel desires
God will stow ye an gie ye fouth
He is the wal at the warld's end,
Lip-fou wi mercy, luve an truth. ... "

Hence ‡fouthie, -y, having abundance, prosperous (Ayr.⁴ 1928; Bnff.² 1943); of cattle, plump, well-filled-out (Lnk. 1825 Jam.); of a crop, abundant, plentiful (Ayr.³ 1910; ne.Sc. 1953). Comb. fouthy-like, having a prosperous look (Lth. 1825 Jam.). Also used adv. and in adv. form fouthily, comfortably, amid plenty.Lth. 1813 G. Bruce Poems 173:
A weel-spent youth mak's garr'lous age Aft pass awa fu' fouthily.Dmf. 1835 Sc. Songs (ed.Whitelaw 1844) 202:
Her bein, fouthie minnie, — she's aff an' awa'!Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 100:
The vera best was dune, ye may be sure, That baith o' them micht be richt fouthy fed.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Sc. Songs 28:
Flozent some, but fere an' fouthie.

II. adj. Full; “sated” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Add.). Rare.Ayr. 1834 M. Porteous Real “Souter Johnny” (1858) 12:
Wi' reamin bicker O' nappy gude, or glasses fouth O' foreign liquor.