Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MEANTIME, n., adv. Also mane-. Found earlier as two words. Sc. usages:
I. n. In phrs.: 1. in the meantime, for the present, just now, for the time being. Gen.Sc. Also the meantime used adv. (Sh., Cai., Per. 1975). Gall. 1719 Session Bk. Minnigaff (1939) 327:
The officer reports he cited William M'Burney to attend who told him in the mean time he would not attend.Sc. 1752 Session Papers, Memorial M. Menzies (28 Nov.):
They . . . in the mean Time, craved a Stop against extracting the Decreet of Ranking.Sc. 1832 Fife Herald (11 Oct.):
The panel was seized with some severe illness at the bar, and was ordered to be in the meantime removed.Ags. 1858 People's Jnl. (10 April) 2:
Owin' to an illfaured business that befell me a day or twa syne, I hae resiled frae that intent i' the meantime.Abd. 1863 G. Macdonald D. Elginbrod lxxi.:
Wad ye no tak' a drappy oot o' the bottle i' the mane time?Cai. 1869 M. McLennan Peasant Life I. 299:
Lat me kiss ye the meantime then, if I'm no tae grieve.Dmf. 1878 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 19:
The Secretary was then instructed to receive the property referred to from Mr Corrie, and take charge of it in the meantime.Rs. 1884 Crofters' Comm. Evidence II. 1017:
There is a Sabbath school kept in the Cross school in connection with the same church. Is it well attended? — I don't think it is very well attended in the meantime.Mry. 1952 I. Cameron Heather Mixture vi.:
It will be safe there in the meantime.
2. In the middle (Cai. 1903 E.D.D.) or mids (ne.Sc., Fif., Dmf. 1962) of the meantime, ¶mids the meantime, meanwhile, for the present.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 135:
Then, in the middle o' the meantime, it came to my recollection.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxi.:
In the midst o' the meantime, Phelim had been rampaugin' through the hoose.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 141:
'Mids the meantime Jamie cudna keep his heed aboon the water.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 181:
Bit itha th' mids o' the meantime, luik gin there be het watter tae gie yersell a gweed wash.Knr. 1925 H. Haliburton Horace 178:
An' i' the mids' o' the meantime, ken ye Tam thocht the best perch to ascen' fra A pedlar's pack — a rowin' stane.
II. adv. For the time being, at present. Gen.Sc.Fif. 1951, street notice:
This road closed meantime.Mry. 1960 Northern Scot (23 Jan.):
Do not close this School meantime.
