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.
‡BEST AUCHT, n. “The most valuable article, of a particular description, that any man possessed, claimed by a landlord on the death of his tenant; more properly used to denote the best horse or ox employed in labour” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2).Bnff.2 1934:
Fondling the weeping child, she exclaimed: “Haud yir tongue, my lammie; I widna gie ye for gowd; ye're my best aucht” [i.e. the best thing I own].
