Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
A-B-ABS, n. Alphabet; rudiments, beginning. [′e: ′bi: ′ɑbz]Per. 1851 Alex. Maclagan Sketches from Nature 165:
There's preens, an' sweeties, raisins, rock. There's A B abs, for Will an' Jock.Gsw. c.1850 C. Stewart in Mod. Sc. Poets ed. Edwards VIII. 307:
To learnin', sma' was their pretence; But weel they understood The a-b-abs o' common sense, And rules o' manlihood.
