Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1894-1923, 1988-1989
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A'THING, Awthing, Aathing, Awhing, pron. Everything. See also A', adj. [The main forms are ′ǫ:θɪŋ and ′ɑ:θɪŋ; see A', adj., and Thing.]
1. Gen.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 47:
an awthing skyre an lusum tae the sicht;
lik the suin's sel yir bonnie face is bricht,
tint in his warth sic bewtie hesna seen. m.Sc. 1989 Martin Bowman and Bill Findlay The Guid Sisters 65:
But ye ken fine ye've tried awhing. The doactirs've aw tellt ye there's nothin ye can dae aboot it.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 33:
Süne he was as chief as ye like wi' some o' them that had been ca'in him for a'thing.Rxb. 1897 J. C. Dibdin Sc. Border Life 57:
That awthing that awbody had dune would be read ower tae them oot o' a muckle buik.
2. Special use. A call used in playing the game of "bools" or marbles.Mry.(D) 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sketches (1908) 105:
Fain everything, fain a'thing, fain upsies an' fain doonsies.ne.Abd. 1905 W.M. in E.D.D. Suppl.:
If one wishes to have every advantage in this play, he shouts "a'thing"; then he may demand the removal of an obstacle, i.e. "clearances," or he may shift to a better position at the same distance, etc., etc. To deprive an opponent of these advantages one has to shout "naething."
3. Comb.: Johnnie (etc.) A'thing (see quot.).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 43:
J — ie (etc.) A'thing (or A'things), one who keeps a general store.
