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.
Quotation dates: 1886-1927
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ESS, n.4 Sc. form of Eng. ace. Also eace, yess (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 105), (e)yiss. Known to Ork. (eace), Bnff., Abd., Ags., Rxb. (yiss), Uls. (eyiss) correspondents 1942. [ɛs Sc.; Bwk., s.Sc. + ‡ɪəs, jɪs, jɛs]Abd. 1886–94 [J. Cowe] Jeems Sim (1st Series) in North. Figaro 22:
Wi' a skin as black's the ess o' picks.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 9:
Black as the yiss o spades.
