Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1927-1997
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BOTH, pron. in phr. the both of, which is an anglicised Sc. idiom. See Baith, 4 (2). Known also to Abd.22, Fif.1, Lnk.3, Kcb.1 1935.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 1:
"For goad's seck, lass, mak' up thee mind whar's coortin' thee, for a'm seek o' seein' yin two fellas in here for supper night efter night, an' if thoo kinno pick wen a'll keek the both o' them oot."m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood iii.:
The Germany wars have made lameters of the both of us.m.Sc. 1990 A. L. Kennedy Night Geometry and the Garscadden Trains 85:
I also have my pick of two cinemas. The both of them seemed a bit shabby, ...wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 104:
"Come awa' in, the both of you."wm.Sc. 1995 Alan Warner Morvern Callar 32:
Youve [sic] been on the ran dan you couple of wee tinkers and your mother's up to high doe. Get by the bleezing fire then, yous must be perished the both of yous. Couple of wee monkeys.Gsw. 1985 Michael Elder Stookie 15:
"You go away. The both o' ye. Before I carve your brother up - if he is your brother."Uls. 1997 Bernard MacLaverty Grace Notes (1998) 27:
'The rest of them in there insisted we should have a drink. But you know me.'
'Daddy could have downed the both of them for us.'
'He'll be sorely missed.'
