Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CONSTANCY, Constant, n. In phr. for a constancy, — constant (Lnk.3 1937), incessantly, always. The examples in N.E.D. for this use in Eng. are confined to the first half of the 18th cent. Jam.2 (1825) gives wi' a constancy for Abd. and for a constant for Ags.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 74:
There was a coming and gaun aboot the plaee of ne'er-do-well dyvours and licht limmers . . . birling for a constancy at the wine and the cairtes.Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
“I wouldn't do it for a constancy,” i.e. I would not make a practiee of it.
