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.
OFFER, v., n.1 Also oaffer.
I. v.
Sc. form of Eng. offer.Gsw. 1990 John and Willy Maley From the Calton to Catalonia 37:
Fur some strange reason everybody seemed tae think a bunnet, a beret, ur a balaclava oaffered some protection against bullets an bombs.
Sc. usages:
1. Followed by the inf.: to attempt, try, make as if to, threaten (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., 1953 Traynor; ne.Sc., Ags., Arg., Dmf., Rxb. 1964). Now mainly dial. in Eng.Sc. 1722 R. Wodrow Sufferings iii. viii. s. 5:
So benummed with Cold, that when they offered to write, their Hands would not serve them.Fif. 1762 Session Papers, Kirkpatrick v. Geddie (5 April) 10:
She saw him offer to throw his cloaths in the fire.Ayr. 1786 Burns A. Armour's Prayer iv.:
And if he offers to rebel, Then heave him in [to hell]!Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 25:
Let the hens aye set theirsels; and never offer to tak ony notice o' the clockers.Lnk. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 38:
I kent they [ants] would bite if I offered to Steer.Kcb. 1911 Crockett Rose of the Wilderness i.:
A wandering tourist asked me for a glass of water at the door, and offered to kiss me.Abd. 1954 Banffshire Herald (6 March):
It was “offering to snow” at the time.
Vbl.n. offering, a small quantity; a feeble attempt (Sh., ne.Sc., Lnk. 1964).Abd. 1903 E.D.D.:
“I have covered it.” “You have not; you've only gi'en 't an offering [of earth].”
2. With at: to make an attempt at, to aim at. Obs. in Eng. from early 18th c.Sc. 1847 J. W. Carlyle Letters (1883) II. 3:
He did not offer at coming in.
3. With till: to make an offer of marriage to. Obs. in Eng.wm.Sc. 1903 S. Macplowter Mrs. McCraw 41:
Ye met an auld sweethert o' yer ain in Dumfarlin', an' ye offered till her richt awa'.
4. absol. To show promise, to appear to be turning out. Obs. in Eng. from 17th c.Ayr. 1789 Burns To J. Tennant 46:
I'm tauld he offers very fairly.Uls.
1908
Traynor (1953):
It [the mill] offered well, but I don't know what was the cause of it, it failed in spite of all.
II. n. 1. As in Eng. Also oaffer (Sh., Abd., Ags., Edb., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s). Phr.: in one's offer, at one's choice, at one's disposal, for the taking (Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 44).Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 62:
If I had vast wealth on my offer I would not accept it.Sc. 1884 Scottish Reader (8 Nov.) 361:
“Ye ha'e nae richt to Nance,” said the doorkeeper of the sanctuary, “she had me in her offer langsyne.”
2. An attempt, try, feint, feeble effort, gesture (ne.Sc., Ags., Edb. 1964). Obs. in Eng.; specif. an attempt of a fish to rise to an angler's bait.Ayr. 1842 Children in Mines Report II. 372:
“He could make an offer at hewing” when he first began, at 11 years old, but could not do a great deal.Uls.
1908
Traynor (1953):
He made a good offer at it. An offer's as good as a blow.Sc. 1937 St. Andrews Cit. (17 July) 2:
Few fish were seen rising, and many of the competitors never got an “offer”.
3. Promise, hopes, prospect of improvement.Uls.
1953
Traynor:
There's no offer in him, i.e. useless for any purpose.
