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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SIDE, adj., adv. Also syde. [səid]

I. adj. 1. Long, specif. of extension downwards, hanging low, reaching far down, trailing, esp. of clothes (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Comp. sider (Per., Ayr. 1915–1923 Wilson). Phr. side-and-wide, extending in every way, long and large (Ayr.⁴ 1928).w.Lth. 1726 Edb. Ev. Courant (4–6 Oct.):
A dog with small black and white spots on his legs, pretty side black Ears.Sc. 1736 Ramsay Proverbs (1776) 45:
It is good to be side but no to be trailing.Kcb. 1788 Dmf. Weekly Jnl. (9 Dec.):
The Black Mare was bunted; but when stolen, the hair was near as side as her hough.Sc. 1813 Geordie in Child Ballads No. 209 D. iv.:
You may tell her to sew me a gude side shirt.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail xcix.:
Sitting like an effigy on a tomb, wi' your hands baith alike syde.Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Proverbs 110:
Every ane has his ain draff pock, though some hang sider than ithers.Sc. 1840 Tait's Mag. (May) 288:
Your corduroys, a' baith side and wide, and no a broken steek in them.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past & Present 123:
I maun hae my goon made . . . Side an' wide aboot the tail, An' jimp for my body.Sc. 1894 S. R. Whitehead Daft Davie 206:
A street so ‘syde-and-wyde' that there was elbow-room for everyone in Boulder in it.

Combs.: (1) side-coat, a long coat, one with a long frock or tails, a great coat. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial.; (2) side-tailed, having a long tail, of a horse, a coat, etc.(1) Arg. 1700 Arg. Justiciary Rec. (Stair Soc.) I. 187:
Ane gray syde coat and a night cap.Sc. 1753 Trial J. Stewart App. 20:
Allan was . . . dressed in a blue side coat, a red vest, and feathered hat.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xviii.:
An old serving-man, in a blue side-coat of thirty years before.(2) Sc. 1745 Caled. Mercury (23 Oct.):
He sold another Brown side-tail'd Horse.Abd. 1778 Aberdeen Jnl. (6 April):
Three of his Feet White, Side Tailed.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 190:
He wore an old light blue, side-tailed coat.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. vi.:
Trail their syde tailed gowns after a wanton fashion.

†2. Late, belated, long in coming.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
One who comes to a place too late, or who passes the time appointed, is said to be syde.

‡3. Fig. with (up)on: severe or hard on, harsh or censorious towards. dealing hardly with (Abd. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Glendornie i.:
What'll mak' the laddie's deeth mair side apon's fadder.Abd. 1891 J. Leatham Ancient Hind 15:
He wiz awfa side upo' the ministers.Abd. 1934 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 126:
Ye're a' some side upo' me 'cep' the loonie.

II. adv. In a long trailing manner, reaching low to the ground, esp. of dress (Kcb.⁴ 1900).s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems. 358:
Syde his stockings hang ungarter'd.Sc. 1803 Scott Minstrelsy III. 275:
You seem to be some cunning hunter, You wear the horn so syde.Dmb. 1817 J. Walker Poems 101:
Though that mine hing somewhat sider.Abd. 1868 G. MacDonald R. Falconer x.:
I wat ye dinna carry yer coats ower syde!Kcb. 1901 R. D. Trotter Gall. Gossip 287:
She wore her goons verra side, an soopit the streets wi them.