Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
EH, int. In Sc. combs., usually employed to indicate affirmation, surprise, or dismay, e.g. eh aye (Bnff., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., Bwk., Kcb. 1945); eh-la (cf. Lan. dial. e-law); eh man (Abd., Fif., m.Lth., wm.Sc. 1945); eh sirs (Bnff., Abd., Fif., Knr., Slg., wm.Sc. 1945); see also Sirs; eh whow.Fif. 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair I. xxi.:
Eh-la! what sight is this? — what ails my mustard-pot?Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley (1817) xv.:
As nothing was to be got from this distracted chorus, excepting “Lord guide us!” and “Eh sirs!”Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. xlv.:
“Eh whow! Eh whow!” ejaculated the honest farmer, as he looked round upon his friend's miserable apartment.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb viii.:
Is there mair o' 't? Eh aye — here's twa korters!
Hence used as intr. v., to say eh!Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet vn.:
The Justice looked to the Clerk — the Clerk to the Justice; the former ha'd, eh'd, without bringing forth an articulate syllable.
Phr. eh no?, tag question inviting confirmation (Ags., Edb. 2000s).Edb. 1989:
Eh no I'm a good boy mummy?m.Sc. 1989 James Meek McFarlane Boils the Sea 60:
'...But these straps are cutting into you a bit, eh no?'Edb. 1995 Irvine Welsh Marabou Stork Nightmares (1996) 138:
You dinnae mind ay me, eh no? I smiled.
