Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MERCY, n. Sc. usages:
1. Used as an ejaculation of surprise or alarm, absol. as in Eng. or as an equivalent of or alternative to or in reference to God in the following phrs.: mercy be blissed!, — bliss dee! (I.Sc.), — keep me! (Ags. 1907); — me! (Gen.Sc.); — save us!; what in mercy!; Father o' mercy! (Uls. 1953 Traynor), Fader-.Abd. 1882 G. Macdonald Castle Warlock iii.:
What in mercy can hae come o' the laird.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (1 July):
Haud dy tongue, mercy bliss dee. What signafees a spark o' gree?Sh. 1900 Ib. (15 Dec.):
“Fader o' mercy!” Betty said, slippin' her sock, an' fauldin' hir haands apon hir lap.Sc. 1963 Scotsman (8 Feb.) 8:
Mercy me, she is one of our oldest friends.
2. With def. art. and usu. in pl., liquor, strong drink, esp. whisky (ne. and wm.Sc. 1962).Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds xxxii.:
The Bailie requires neither precept nor example wi' his tumbler, when the mercy's afore him.Sc. 1862 Chambers's Jnl. (16 Aug.) 99:
If the precious fluid overflowed the glass, or was spilled in any way, be sure some wit would be ready to caution the rest against “skailin' the mercies, for he would sooner see the end o' the Kirk fa'in in!”Gsw. 1871 Gsw. Weekly Herald (1 April):
A porter was procured, who volunteered to dive for the “mercies”; but then the man could not possibly know the receptacles of wine from porter, or beer from brandy.Sc. 1891 R. Ford Thistledown 126:
They had a sublime confidence in the “dram” as a revivifying agent . . . And “be carefu' o' the mercies” was a stock phrase relating to it . . . “We ran short o' the mercies, and I had to gang to my bed sober.”Lnk. 1951 G. Rae Howe o' Braefoot 160:
It's a peety we canna mak' a nicht o't. There's nae use wastin' the mercies.
