Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1888-2005
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FRONT, n., v. Sc. usages:
I. n. 1. Used ellipt. for "front garden" (ne.Sc., Ags., Fif., Edb., Ayr. 1953).ne.Sc. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 129:
The gudeman wud be oot takin' a turn an' a smoke in the front afore brakfast.
2. In phr. and combs.: (1) front-breist, the front seat in the gallery of a church (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; ne.Sc. 1943). Cf. Fore-breist; (2) front-door flat (house), a ground-floor flat (house) with direct access to the street (Slg.3 1943); (3) fronthandie, a variety of the game of Knifie (see quot.); (4) frontyways, also frontieweys. With the front end first. (5) in front of, of time: before, prior to (Sh., ne.Sc., Fif. 1953).(1) Abd. 1903 W. Watson Auld Lang Syne 123:
The gallery, where in the "front-breist" sat a farmer's daughter.Bnff. 1908 Banffshire Jnl. (17 Nov.) 5:
A sturdy Whitehills fisherman, who was seated on the "front breest of the laft."(2) Gsw. 1913 F. Niven Ellen Adair i.:
All the way along the street there was a regular alternation of "front-door house" and "close door."(3) Sc. 1951 Sunday Post (12 Aug.):
There is "Fronthandie," in which you throw the knife into the air from the palm of your open hand so that it turns over a few times, then sticks in the ground.(4)Gsw. 1988 Michael Munro The Patter Another Blast 25:
frontyways On the model of sideyways, this means front end first: 'Try it sideyways, an if it isny gauny go, take it frontyways.'Edb. 2005:
He drove intae the wa frontieweys.(5) Abd. 1904 Abd. Wkly. Free Press (23 Jan.):
Ye'll hardly mind, maybe, on the tenant wha wis here in front of me.
†II. v. Of meat: to swell in boiling (Ags. 1808 Jam.). Also in Eng. dial.
