Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DEY, n.² [dei Sh.; dəi ne.Sc.; de: Fif.]

1. A father (Abd. 1900 E.D.D.; Fif. 1825 Jam.²; Fif.¹⁰ 1940; Rnf. 1875 (per Abd.²⁷)); hence grand-dey, a grandfather (Fif. 1825 Jam.²). A child's word.

2. A grandfather (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Mry.¹ 1925; Bnff., Fif. 1947 (per Abd.²⁷)); used as a term of respect when speaking to an old man. A grandmother (Bnff. 1927 Mr Milne W.-L.).Clc. 1889 F. Barnard in Poets and Poetry Lnlsh. (ed. Bisset 1896) 195:
Eh! there's dey up frae the raw, Come to tak' my bairn awa'.