Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
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: 1787-1796, 1895, 1947-2004
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MY, poss.adj. Also mah, meh (Dundee). Also Sc. unstressed forms: ma (Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick I. v., Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xvi., Rxb. c.1870 Jethart Worthies 58; Rnf. 1873 D. Gilmour Pen Folk 25; ne.Sc. 1887 G. Green Gordonhaven viii.). Gen.Sc.; me (Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 8, Sh. 1898 Shetland News (30 July), 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 9); mi (Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 68, 1928 Manson's Sh. Almanac 186); m'. [mɑe; unstressed mɑ, mə; I.Sc. mi, mɪ]
Sc. forms of Eng. my. Dundee 1989 W. N. Herbert in Joy Hendry Chapman 55-6 93:
Ur yi by meh side, daith?
Eh'm by yir left side as aye. Dundee 1990 Sheila Stephen in Joy Hendry Chapman 60 51:
" ... Yi ken how Eh like a smokie fir meh tea on a Thursday? ... "Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 9:
Weill said I (ablow mi breath)
that cows aa! fin yersel anither
gowk tae faither yer ferlies ... Sc. 1992 Herald 19 Mar 6:
"Aye," says he, "but whose money will she get? Your money! And mah money! Aye. Good day tae ye."Sc. 1994 Daily Record 30 Apr 2:
It isn't the accused who are in contempt of court. It's the Anglicised judges who are in contempt of Scots.
In both cases, the answer should have been: Awa' ye big sumph, mah lord.wm.Sc. 1998 Alan Warner The Sopranos (1999) 34:
I'm needing a helicopter ta winch me back ta mah seat.Sc. 1999 Scotsman 4 Nov 19:
Having taught in West Lothian myself, I can assure you that there are many unholy manifestations there. They usually sit back and fill the air with lamentations such as "A' we no gittin' a vidjo?" and "He's broke mah ruler".Dundee 2000 Herald 28 Aug 28:
Within a few days I expect him to be inundated with Dundee's finest Elvis doppelgangers - "meh wife sewed on a' they sequins thingies 'ersel' ken" - and any number of slightly off-the-wall citizens who feel they look like somebody famous.Dundee 2003 Aberdeen Evening Express 18 Sep 22:
"Eh ken you ... divin't eh?" As the TV man bristled in front of media colleagues at being recognised by a fan, thinking he really was Erchie, the peroxide one added: "Did you no' work beside meh man in the Timex?"Dundee 2004 Scotsman 31 Dec 29:
With Scotland being the Hogmanay capital of the universe, the enforced fun can sometimes overwhelm. If you favour a traditional (aka, maudlin) approach, borrow a response from Bill Duncan, author of The Wee Book of Calvin, to queries about your planned revels: "Eh'll be in ma bed wi meh fais turned tae the waa."
Sc. usages:
1. Used as in Eng. as an ejaculation of surprise. Sc. phr. my be here, dear me, good gracious.Sc. 1895 N. Roy Horseman's Word ix.:
My be here, life's but a glaik on the wa', we're auld afore we ken!
2. Comb.: my lord, milord, a Haggis, prob. a jocular reference to Burns's mode of address to the haggis: "great chieftain of the pudding race " (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.).
3. Used in certain noun phrs. where idiomatic Eng. omits, as with bed, dinner. Gen.Sc. Cf. usages of The.Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 57:
I am going to my bed, my dinner. — Better — to bed, to dinner.Ayr. a.1796 Burns There's news, lasses ii.:
I'll no gang to my bed Until I get a man.Gsw. 1947 H. W. Pryde First Book of McFlannels 132:
What . . . have ye in the hoose that ye can gi'e me fur ma tea in a hurry?
