Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1722-1789, 1864-1898, 1999
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LAST, adj., adv., n.1 Compar. laster, superl. lastest (Abd. 1825 Jam.). Sc. usages. See also Lest. Phrs. and combs.: 1. at last and lang, — length, see Lang, Lenth; 2. (the) last day, the previous day, yesterday, the other day; 3. last-end, the bag or cod-end of a white-fishing net; 4. the last heir, Sc. law: the Crown in its capacity as the heir of a person who dies intestate without known heirs or next of kin, a translation of the more commonly used Latin term Ultimus Haeres, q.v. (Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 575).2. Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 21:
Auld Magy Procter speer'd at me last day.Ayr. 1789 Burns Bruar Water iii.:
Last day I grat wi' spite and teen.Fif. 1864 St Andrews Gazette (30 April):
A person who last day obtained a grocer's certificate.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (20 Aug.):
Sibbie brook me bit o' inseam alishen da last day.Gall. 1999:
A saw him the last day.3. Fif. 1879 G. Gourlay Fisher Life 38:
As he and the crew worked the fishing gear, when, "the last end " on board, the race began.4. Sc. 1722 W. Forbes Institute I. iii. 58:
Ultimus heres, is a Right by which the King succeeds as last Heir, or rather for want of an Heir.
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"Last adj., adv., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/last_adj_adv_n1>
