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.
Quotation dates: 1778-1915
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OD, int. Also odd(s); ot. An aphetic form of the name of God, used as a mild oath (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 257; Sh., ne. and em.Sc. 1964). Now only dial. in Eng.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 50:
Od they smell'd like ony haggies.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality vii.:
Odd, but I put a trick on ye, for I was out at the window-bole when your auld back was turned.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xvi.:
Od, I wadna gie ye for the hale o' them.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes xii.:
"Will ye tak' oot the bit lassie?" "Od will I! Whaur is she!"Rnf. 1877 J. M. Neilson Poems 52:
Odds, mistress, I'd fain introduce ye tae Jean.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 140:
Odd! Mrs. D —, the falla that blew that yin maun hae been fearfu' short in the wun'.Fif. 1894 J. W. M'Laren Tibbie and Tam 56:
But, o'd, is't that time already?Uls. 1908 A. M'Ilroy Burnside v.:
Odd man! . . . had I the muzzle pointed the right w'y?Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 114:
Did ye ever see Lizzie wi' th' horse an' cairts? Ot ay, mony time.
Also in various interjectional phrs., mainly simply liter. or arch.: od awite's (Bnff. 1917 E. S. Rae Private J. McPherson 14), od-be-here (Abd. 1923 Swatches o' Hamespun 18), od bless me (wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan 58), od, dam'ort (Ib. 41), odd, fish (Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 131), od hiv a care o' me (Fif. c.1889 Ellis E.E.P. V. 725), od guide us, od(d) sake(s), od's- (Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 196; Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken (1887) ix.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 257; ne. and wm.Sc. 1964), od save us, -sauf's, oddsaffs (Sh. 1964), odd-spittkins (Fif. 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair 85), odso (Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant v.), odsooks (Ayr. 1847 J. Paterson Ballads 110), o'd's presence (Abd. 1836 J. Grant Tales 41), ods rackit, oddsticks (Ags. 1897 G. A. Mackay Where the Heather Grows 16).Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 8:
Oddsaffs! my heart neer did wallop cadgier Then whan the Laird took Harry, for a sodger.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xiii.:
Od guide us, wull ye haud your skirling tongues!Lnk. 1860 W. Watt Songs 82:
"Od saffs!" sigh'd the laird.Lth. 1887 A. S. Swan Aldersyde ii. iv.:
'Od save us a', that'll be an unco handfu'.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Ingleside Musings 219:
His heart lap within him — "There's Jess o' the Glen, Ods rackit, she'd make me a marrow."Sc. 1891 N. Dickson Kirk Beadle 102:
Od's sake I was fleyed for him.
