Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ABREED, ABREDE, ABREID, adv.  Also abreadth.[ə′brid, ə′bridθ]

1. In wider stretch, wide, apart, open.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 45:
Thon bonnie peacock up et the Big Hoose
wad pace the green wi his lang fedders spreid,
his staurie tail gey near sax feet abreid.Lth. 1801 Jas. Thomson Poems (1819) 107:
At times the Muse wad raise her head, An' spread her wings a wee abreed.Hdg. 1902 Jas. Lumsden Toorle, etc. 273:
Quo' Mathie: “Katie! lie abreid, Yer legs are cauld as frozen leid.”Lnk. 1923 Gilbert Rae 'Tween Clyde and Tweed 59:
Ay, mair than Tam has felt the stoun', where haughs fa' weel abrede.Kcb. a.1902 Jos. Heughan Virgil's “Golden Age,” Gallovidian XV. (1913) 109:
Nae pleushares then frush grun will cowp abreed, Nor gardener's whuttle sappy vines gar bleed.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
He streetch't 'is airms abreed.

2. Over a wide area, abroad.Sc. 1754 J. Justice Sc. Gardiner 245:
I laid it again a-breadth, to rot perfectly well before April.Hdg. 1896 Jas. Lumsden Battles of D. and P., etc. 7:
Athort the Moss, in plaids — or nane — The breekless legions of the North, In raggit herds abreed were lain.Rnf. 1800–1810 Tannahill Poems and Songs (1817) App. 270:
Or Scotchman-like, hae tramp't abreed, To yon big town far south the Tweed.Ayr. 1786 Burns To a Louse vii.:
O Jeany, dinna toss your head, An' set your beauties a' abreid!Ayr. 1855 Hew Ainslie Land of Burns and Poems (1892) 198:
Nor recks the coof some sliddery loof Will soon skail a' abreed.Gall. 1824 J. MacTaggart Gall. Encycl. 3:
Scatter it abreed to the four wuns.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Spreed the dung weel abreed.

3. To pieces, in pieces.Lnk. 1923 Gilbert Rae 'Mang Lowland Hills 20:
Come the staney laws, knockin' a' abreid — It's peace in the hairt that's the warld's sair need.sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
abraid, abreed: pu', tak, tear abraid to rip. w.Dmf. 1925 W. A. Scott in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 16:
Oor boy took his cycle abreed and could na pit it thegither again.Dmf. 2003:
Ye cannae tak a modern clock abreed fur it's a riveted thegither no screwed.