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). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CERTIE, CERTY, adv. and int. Also serty (Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 2). Also in forms certies, certes, certis, and most commonly found in phrases (see 2 below), indicating additional emphasis. [′sɛrtɪ̢]

1. Assuredly; to be sure, sure enough. Known to Abd.², Ags.², Fif.¹⁰, Lnk.³ 1939.Sc. 1884 A. S. Swan Carlowrie ii.:
Certy, ye are a braw little quean . . . a perfect wee leddy.w.Dmf. 1908 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo (1912) ix.:
He was anxious I wad wager him a shillin' that he wadna put his heel in his neck. . . . I did sae . . . and, certie, efter a lot o' twistin' and sprauchlin, he managed his point.

2. Phrase: (by) my (ma) certie (certy); — certi(e)s, — certes, used in excls. of surprise or emphasis. Gen.Sc., except for Sh. and Ork.Sc. 1929 M. M. Muir in Sc. Readings, etc. (ed. T. W. Paterson) 26:
Ten o'clock! An' us staun'in' here gossipin'! Ma certy!Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 66:
My certie, please peace an' the king, I'll bide laicher doon. A sailor can climb like a cat, but a plooman likes stan'in' room for's feet.Abd. 1930 D. Campbell Kirsty's Surprise 37:
Be sure, lassie, tae mak' yersel' at hame, for, ma certies, ye're a gey step frae yer ain noo.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin xxiv.:
My certie, if he didna dicht me up, clean steek, for my undutifu' behaviour.Edb. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 25:
By my certes! This aping fool gae Evening parties.Lnk. 1930 T. S. Cairncross in Scots Mag. (Jan.) 301:
My certes! wha wad be a beadle noo?Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 252:
By my certy, it wou'd ta'en a buirdly chiel' to said boo to him.s.Sc. 1871 H. S. Riddell Poet. Wks. I. 37:
My certis, ye're sure to hear.