A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Ether, adv. (conj.). Also: ethir, ethair, æthir; eyther, eythir. [ME. ether, eyther, etc. Cf. Ether,adj. Either ( … or).a1400 Leg. S. iii. 870.
Quhen he suld eyther do or say … helplyk thing ? 1485 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 137.
He sal mak … bandis of security eythir of landis or sowmes of money a1578 Pitsc. I. 14/24.
Ether to call and withdraw the leiwe [= lave] or ȝet [etc.] 1588 King Cat. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 214/17.
To haue a greidie desyre … to get geir, ether by deceat, reif, ockar, or siklyke vnleisome vaye 1622-6 Bisset II. 253/27.
The servandis … that dois thare maisteris besynes æthir be land or seæ 1621-40 Melville Commonpl. 37.
Ethair with a mirie hart … Or with a faithfull freind 1649 Lamont Diary 12.
It was thought … that she wronged her selfe, ether by strangling or by poyson
