A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1400, 1499-1500, 1558-1590
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Iff, conj. Also: if(e, yf. [ME. iff, if(fe; not otherwise recorded as Sc.] Adopted f. Eng. in place of the normal Sc. Gif. 1375 Barb. iii. 96.
Thai had sworn, iff thai micht see The Bruys … That thai suld … hym sla c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 111 (C).
If [D. yf] that he myght c1400 Ib. 340; etc.
Yf [D. if] it be thy will a1500 Quare of Jelusy 281.
Ife a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 131, 952, etc.
If, Yf 1558-66 Knox Hist. Laing MS. 172 b; etc.
Yf that the lard of Grange ... had nott [etc.] 1582 Colville Lett. 6.
Allwais yf he gymp he will be excommunicat 1590 Crail B. Ct. 6 Oct.
Iff ony hors nolt or scheip beis fund [etc.]
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"Iff conj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/iff>
