Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1703-1723, 1787-1956
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LAIRGE, adj., adv., n. Also lairdge; †learg(e); lerge. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. large, now somewhat obsol. Cf. P.L.D. §48.1. (2). [lerdʒ]
I. adj. 1. As in Eng. Adv. lairgely.Edb. 1703 Edb. Mag. (July 1795) 54:
For 2 learge turkies . . . £ 12 Sc.Lnl. 1719 Binns Papers (S.R.S.) II. 105:
For 600 lairdge sclatt nalls att 14 ss.Bwk. 1880 T. Watts Woodland Echoes 39:
The lairger they the better pleas'd Was puir auld Gibbie.Ags. 1895 F. Mackenzie Glenbruar 16:
It'll depend lairgely on Dauvit Simpson.Sc. 1896 Stevenson W. of Hermiston iii.:
You're splairging; you're running at lairge in life like a wild nowt.wm.Sc. 1906 H. Foulis Vital Spark iv.:
I ran doon and found her sittin' up chokin' wi' a sweetie that wass a size too lerge for her.Abd. 1913 G. Greig Mains Again 39:
I'm here mysel', as lairge as life.
2. Of things: plentiful, numerous, in good supply (ne.Sc., Ags. 1960).Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 51:
Fodder is large.Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1813) 41:
A' thing was large as cou'd ha'e been, And far frae dear.Ags. 1886 Brechin Advertiser (2 March) 3:
Wark's nae sae vera lairge i' the noo.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 82:
An' the ferly did growe, that craiters sae heedless, Sae lairge an' sae fest, te this place shid fa.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (6 May):
In a season when turnips are "lairge," and straw and hay not too plentiful.
3. Of persons, etc., with o, in: having an abundant supply of, rich in (ne.Sc., Ags. 1960).Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 179:
I'm no that large o' siller, no large o' time.Ags. 1952 Forfar Dispatch (1 May):
Italy's affa lairge in famous tombs and we fair lost coont, afore we wir throwe.Kcd. 1956 Mearns Leader (15 June):
Ye'll be fel lairge o' siller?
4. Generous, lavish, munificent (Cai. 1902 E.D.D., esp. when ostentatiously so; ne.Sc., Ags. 1960).Abd. 1904 W. Farquhar Fyvie Lintie 63:
The people lo'ed the clergy, And backed them up at ilka word, Wi' he'rts and purses lairge aye.Bnff.2 1930:
Ye sidna be sae lairge wi' yer bawbees; ye'll maybe need them some day.
5. Copious in speech, voluble, discursive.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvii.:
He was gey lairge upo' that. "Ye see, it's nae a licht responsibility at nae time," says he, "till conduck the buzness o' an estate like this."
6. Self-important (Cai. 1902 E.D.D., Cai. 1960).
II. adv. †1. Fully, quite, amply. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1723 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) III. 26:
He thought he was large as blameless as he.
2. Boastfully, bombastically (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Cf. I. 4.
III. n. In phr. ¶by the large, = Eng. by and large, as a whole. Gall. 1902 Crockett Dark o' Moon 90:
Ye had cuttit yoursel' faa'in doon thae dreadsome rocks, an ta'en by the large, ye werena bonny to look upon.
