Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SO, adv., int. Sc. usages. For Sc. forms see Sae, adv.

I. adv. In phrs. such as so he, she, it etc. is, did etc., less freq. ye are etc. so, a quasi-parenthetical phrase of asseveration, following the statement itself, always with the form so, indeed it is, etc. (wm.Sc., Kcb. 1971). Also in Ir. and U.S. dial. Cf. That, adv., 2.Highl. 1830 Perthshire Adv. (24 June):
Me never lifted her hand abin her head, all her days, so she didna.Ayr. 1896 G. Umber Idylls 75:
It's just you that's aye leukin' at her skelliet, so it is.Dmf. 1912 J. Hislop Echoes 342:
Ye're a dying man, ye are so.Gsw. 1947 H. W. Pryde First Bk. McFlannels 74:
You're a wee dodger, so you are!m.Sc. 1969:
He's plenty o' siller, so he has. She was sittin there greetin, so she was. He hut me, so he did.Gsw. 1987 James Kelman Greyhound for Breakfast (1988) 94:
Naw, said the drunk. It's no fucking right so it's no. I was wanting soup and she wouldnt give me it and then ...

II. int. Used with various meanings according to intonation, as, please yourself, that's quite all right (Sh. 1951 Sh. Folk Book II. 64); as an expression of resignation: oh well (Sh. 1952 Robertson and Graham Sh. Grammar 19), or of approval or satisfaction: good (Ib.). In reduplicated form so so, as an expression of conciliation, e.g. when comforting a child, there, there (Ib.), or as a transitional interjection: well well, well then; that's enough, no more, of a helping of food (Ork. 1971).Sc. 1848 Sc. Journal I. 400:
So, so, Miss Jeny (says I) hae ye stumped the cow of her tale?Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 37:
So, so, well look alang again.Sh. 1954 New Shetlander No. 40. 15:
Marbel says so so, my joy, just du mark my wirds.Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 61. 13:
So, so, blissin be wi you, sir.