Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BY-BITE, BYE BIT, n. comb. A snack between meals (Abd.²², Lnk.³ 1938). [′bɑɪ′bəit, -′bɪt, -′bɪ̢t]Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. v.:
“Shame be in my meal-poke then”, exclaimed Lord Turntippet, “and your hand aye in the nook of it. I had set that down for a bye bit between meals for mysel.”w.Dmf. 1917 J. L. Waugh Cute McCheyne 84:
For guidness' sake steer clear o' the mistress, for she disna believe in gi'ein bairns by-bites.