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).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AIR, Ear, adv. and adj. [e:r]

1. adv. Early. Most freq. in phr. late and air, or air and late (common also in O.Sc.). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shepherd (1728) I. i.:
In ilka Place she jeers me air and late.Sc. 1746 J. Bisset Diary in Spalding Club Misc. (1841) I. 375:
But late and air the rebels are passing.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Air, early. Very air, very early in the morning. Airer and airest are used in the comp. and superl.Abd.(D) 1913 C. Murray Hamewith, A Green Yule iv.:
The Hairst o' the Almighty I hae gathered late an' ear'. [Rhymes with Fair.]Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Sc. Poems (1925) 59:
Ah, Johnny! aften did I grumble Frae cozy bed fu' ear' to tumble.Hdg. 1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons, etc. 80:
This gangrel monarch to Craigfell Cam' air this morning, selling heather besoms.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 70:
What brings a wean this way sae air'?w.Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw A Country Schoolmaster 369:
Nose at grindstone, late and air, Toiling a' days.

2. adj. Early.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxvii.:
Air day or late day the fox's hide finds the flaying knife.Sc. 1825 Jam.²:
It is a common proverb, “An air winter's a sair winter.”Abd.(D) c.1750 R. Forbes Jnl. from London, etc. (1769) 11:
A curn air bear.Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 56:
The wives are sair negleckit cause oor 'oors are late an' air.

3. Comb.: Air-up, early out of bed, adv. and adj. (See also Air-yesterday, Air-yestreen.)

(1) adv.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 120:
But some wha had been fow yestreen, Sic as the Latter-gae, Air up had nae will to be seen, Grudgin their Groat to pay.

(2) adj.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 105:
Ye needna sit there, Jims, blinkin like an air-up hoolet.