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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AFRIST, A FRIST, adv., adv.phr. meaning “when put off, or delayed.”Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 32:
All ills are good a frist. [Kelly expl. “The longer a mischief is a coming, the better.”]

[Prob. a = on + frist, q.v. Cf. Mid.Eng. do in first = to delay, and O.E. on firste = in time — i.e. not at once, after an interval. But of frist occurs in 16th cent. Sc. — e.g. c.1565 Lindesay (Pitscottie) Chron. Scot. (1814) I. 238: All thir lordis war verrie blyth, thinking that all evill was guid of frist (quot. in N.E.D.)]

Afrist adv., adv. phr.

255

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