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.
AITHER, adv., conj., pron., adj. A Sc. form of either. [′e:ðər]Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 68:
Ye's' aither tak' a freendly bowl wi' me, . . . or else bae me faith ye's' get a thrashin' [etc.].Gall.(D) 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 24:
[They] ax't him aither tae restreen the dog, or else keep it awa frae the kirk.ne.Sc. 1994 Alison Mann in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 196:
We hid tae wite on them hand an fit, aye ahent them - cleanin - cleanin.
They didna seem tae appreciate onythin aither.
Hence aithers, aythers, adv. (see -S, suff. (2)) (Per., Kcb. 1975), and quots.: Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy Geordie Chalmers 149:
Wait awee, An'ra, an' bena sae quick aithers. . . . I shouldna do that aithers. wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 144:
And her no tae hae her breakfast aithers. wm.Sc. 1934 T. Smellie Mrs Goudie's Tea-Pairty 41:
It could hardly be that aythers.
