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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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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.

AFFRONT, v. To cause to feel ashamed, to put to the blush, to humiliate before others; to offend (not necessarily with intention). Gen.Sc. These meanings, though found in St.Eng., would seem to be commoner in Sc., in which they are the usual meanings of the word. Of the associated noun affront, Johnson observed that the meaning “disgrace, shame” was “rather peculiar to the Scottish dialect.” Examples, however, of this sense, for both v. and n., are quoted in N.E.D. for Eng. writers of Johnson's time as well as earlier and later; but it still remains more freq. in Sc., both in literature and in common speech. The peculiar meaning recorded by Sinclair is not supported elsewhere: To affront any one: To eclipse, or get the better of any one. (Ob. Sc. Dial. (1782) p. 17.) (The pa.p. affrontit, affronted, passes into an adjectival use = ashamed, humiliated, as in some of foll. ex.)Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xxxiv.:
Div ye mind hoo ye was affronted because I set ye doon to a cauld pigeon-pie, an' a tanker o' tippenny . . . afore some leddies?Sc. a.1832 A. Henderson Proverbs 24:
Affront your friend in daffin, and tine him in earnest.Sc. 1834–1835 J. M. Wilson Tales of the Borders, The Simple Man, etc. XVII. (1858) 186:
But ye wouldna have me to speak abruptly to the gentleman, or to affront him?Mry.¹ 1925:
Affronted — injured in feelings; ashamed.Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie I. xxii.:
I . . . wuss him sae affrontit wi' himsel' er' a' be dune, 'at he wad fain hide his heid in a midden.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 9:
"I'm sorry I've bin queer wi ye this last fylie," quo he. "Bit Graham's bin ...".
"Spennin siller on ye?" speired Davie, sherp-like.
Neil hud the guid grace tae luik affrontit. "Ay weel, mebbe. ... "Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sketches v. 39:
I'm sair affrontit that she should set the countryside speakin' in that play-actin' business.Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 124:
What needs I care whuther fowk kens a' aboot it, or no'? I've been black affrontit that often, I dinna care a doaken noo what happens.wm.Sc. 1991 Liz Lochhead Bagpipe Muzak 38:
Big blooming Dallassy shoulder pads, hectic pattren, lurex thread through it, apparently sent away for it out Myna-Inglis-Next-Door's catalogue, cheap-lukkin wisnae the word for it. I was quite affronted, you'd think we never bought her anything decent.Gsw.(D) 1902 J. J. Bell Wee Macgreegor iii.:
Noo, Macgreegor . . . ye're no' to affront me. Yer Aunt Purdie's rale genteel, an' awfu' easy offendit.Gsw. 1927 J. H. Bone Loud-Speaker 32:
Don't be affrontin' your Uncle, Wullie.Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair xxv.:
An' dinna, for a kebbuck-heel, Let lasses be affronted On sic a day!Ayr. 1786 Burns Sec. Ep. Lapraik iv.:
So dinna ye affront your trade, But rhyme it right.Gall. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xxxiii.:
At your time o' life, Jen, to dress up for a young man, I'm black affrontit.Gall.(D) 1901 Trotter Galloway Gossip 55:
Mr O — e wusna the man tae affront folk by refusin their offers o' refreshment.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 58:
“Black-affrontit” (= grossly insulted).Uls. 1880 W. H. Paterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn. 1:
“He didn't affront her” — i.e. it was not a shabby present he made her. Pr.p. as adj., affrontin' = insulting, offensive.Dmf. 1920 J. L. Waugh Heroes in Homespun 99:
She asserted with a toss of her head that “his impiddence was affrontin'.”