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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JUIST, adv. Also joost; juest, jeust (Ork.), jöst (Sh.); jist, jeest, je(i)st; jis (Hdg. 1876 J. Teenan Song and Satire 27); joust (Dmf. 1830 R. Broun Mem. Curl. Mab. 72); see Duist for other forms. [I. and m.Sc. dʒøst, dʒyst, dʒɪst; ne.Sc. + dʒist; Kcd., Gall. + dʒust. For the phonetics, cf. Judge, Justice, Jupe, n.¹, Jute.]

Sc. forms and usages of Eng. just: really, quite, absolutely, simply; differing from Eng. in implying no less than, as opposed to no more than, a specified degree, and very freq., esp. in ne.Sc., following and not preceding the word it modifies. Hence used as an emphatic asseverative: indeed, truly; and in phrs. juist (that) (na), freq. in answers: quite, quite so, exactly, precisely.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 17:
They were a' just like to eat their thumb That he wi' her sae far ben should a come.Ags. 1868 G. Webster Strathbrachan II. 351:
“Justna, justna”, said the hostess, “Nae doubt ye've a grand up-pitting.”Lnl. 1880 T. Orrock Fortha's Lyrics 30:
“Weel-a-weel, I'll jist say yer no coming, then, Danny.” “Jist that, Joseph.”Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 215:
This is a true story, for I've heard 'm tell't mysel', oh! fifty 'ear sin' feckly, juist.Abd. 1892 Innes Review (Spring 1956) 23:
I took a drammie that time, for I was geeled jist.m.Sc. 1893 A. S. Swan Homespun v.:
“I suppose he'll jist stap in to your fireside, Marget?” “Jist that.”Ayr. 1895 H. Ochiltree Redburn ix.:
“She's gi'en the hoose a bit redd up. Things were back a wee, inside, ye ken.” “Juist that na.”s.Sc. 1901 N.E.D.:
You did not take it. I did just.Bch. 1949 W. R. Melvin Poems 99:
Yon Navy boykee that's gunner aboord My boat is nae eese ava', jist.Highl. 1971 Allan Campbell McLean The Year of the Stranger (1987) 2:
If I had not been smart in ducking, the blow he struck at my head would have felled me senseless. 'I was drying myself just,' I added hastily. wm.Sc. 1978 Christine Marion Fraser Rhanna (1979) 157:
Shelagh wakened from a very satisfying nap and gave vent to her pent up 'winds'. 'Terrible just,' she consoled herself ... wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 3:
Can you no learn to shut your cheeky face?
You're jist a servin' lass, it's no your place ... Edb. 1990 James Allan Ford in Joy Hendry Chapman 59 44:
" ... The difference is that you're growing up and, wherever you are, growing is learning, just." m.Sc. 1990 Douglas Lipton in Hamish Whyte and Janice Galloway New Writing Scotland 8: The Day I Met the Queen Mother 57:
Scots Pine
Aye. D'they no' jeest Sc. 1991 T. S. Law in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 33:
whuin monie coals were gy nearhaun
the surface o the grallocht grun,
the maist o colliers' hames were haundie
til pitheid, juist abuin the cundie Abd. 1991 David Ogston in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 117:
There wisna juist a lot o room
In the wee seat. My knees
Wis a bit scuffy for clearance
An I hid naebody tae spik till. Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 8:
the fuhl-back's skinned
the defence is left haunless
juist the keeper
ainlie the keeper em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 16:
'Have you got a job at the moment, Andrew?' Hardie asked.
'She jist asked me that.'