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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ILTA, n. Also ilty, elta, iylta-, ¶ilt. [′ɪltə]

1. Anger, passion, resentment, ill-will, spite, malice (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 112; Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XV. 96, ilty; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw., ilty). Ppl.adj. ilted, displeased, angry, disappointed (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Lnk. 1818 A. Fordyce Country Wedding 51:
It's ilt an' ill nature, that's easy seen through.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 104:
His spitefu' he'rt runs ower wi' ilty.Sh. 1898 W. F. Clark North. Gleams 58:
Whin da moarnin' cam, da elta haed worn aff o' Robbie.

Hence iltafu, angry, malicious, full of ill-will or hatred (Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XV. 96; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), ‡Sh. 1958); also used as n. in phrs. oot o' iltafu, out of spite (Jak.), to tak iltafu at (or to), to take a dislike to (Ib.). Also in ppl. form iltifeed.Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 591:
I wiz dat illtafu itt am mear az sertan I widna a left da wratch da ormal o' a lugg.Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (5 April):
I winder what it is 'at's caused dy midder, an' mebbe mair o' you, ta tak sic iyltafaa at Minna.Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 11:
Whither hid wus 'at he wus i' sic a iltaefu' meud, I ken no', bit the Laird drank mair or ony o' them that night.Ork. 1931 Orcadian (7 May):
Orrapow jaloused 'at Stinko hed gaen da horse some kind o' poother or ither pushin' an' waas rightly iltafoo ower id.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 209:
“Twin boys,” I said, right iltifeed that I didno ken this peece o' news.

2. Remorse, “sorrow at one's own conduct” (Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 152).