Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BYE-JOB, n. comb. “A by-work or subsidiary employment” (Abd.21 1935); known also to Bnff.2, Abd.9, Ags.2, Fif.1, Slg.3 1938.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary (1818) xlii.:
He then spoke to the messenger, who, upon his arrival, had laid aside all thoughts of making a good bye-job out of the deforcement, and accepted Mr Oldbuck's assurances that the horse and taxed-cart should be safely returned in the course of two or three hours.Rxb. 1816 Campbell's Third Journey to the Borders in Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1904) XXXVI. 15:
He being a Border lifter, the poor fellow was caught hold of in some of his lifting exploits, and cast into prison; but escaping justice, and set at large, he renewed his bye-jobs.