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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

ALAFT, adv. Aloft, in various senses: high up, high, upward, up, in or to heaven. [ə′lɑft]Sc. 1725 Orpheus Caled., The Country Lass (1733) i.:
Altho' my Gown be hame-spun Gray, My Skin it is as saft — O, As them that Satin Weeds do wear, And carry their heads alaft — O.
ne.Sc. 1881 in W. Gregor Folk-Lore of N.E. Scot. 112:
As lang's this stane stands on this craft The name of Keith shall be alaft; But when this stane begins t' fa' The name of Keith shall wear awa'.
Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 53:
I'm thinkin' fin he gyangs alaft . . . The angels'll gar Donal' tak' His pipes oot o' the kist.

[Eng. aloft, from O.N. ā = on + lopt = sky. O.Sc. has on loft (as late as Montgomerie, end of 16th cent.); alaft first appears about that time in Sc. literature, aloft earlier.]

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