Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824, 1886
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BY-TIME, Bye-time, n. comb. Spare moments (Abd.2, Fif.10 1938). Given by N.E.D. but with only one quot. as late as 19th cent. Not recorded by Concise or Un. Eng. Dicts. [′bɑɪ′təim]Sc. 1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xvi.:
Had translated into the Gaelic in his by-time.
Phr.: at a bye-time, occasionally (Bnff.2 1938).Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet, Letter xi.:
He liked an orra sound, and a tune on the pipes weel aneugh at a bye-time.
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"By-time n. comb.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bytime>
