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.
‡OWTHOR, n. Also -er (Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 97), -ir, outher, outhor, -our (Sc. 1779 A. Scott The Contrast 10). Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. author. See also Author. [′ʌuθər]Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 110:
Fell few, for sooth, his brither craft, Sae mony pauky outhers caft, Their knacks to learn.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 200:
The genius o' an owther that every man kens.Abd. 1928 Word-Lore III. 147:
An eemirsome owthir o' local strums an' ballads.ne.Sc. 1953 Mearns Leader (11 Dec.):
A wheen o' stories that varied accordin' tae fa wis owther.
Hence owthoreeze, to authorise (Abd. 1811 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxvi., 1936 D. Bruce Cheengefu' Wordle 28), owthority (Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xxxiv.).
[The diphthong is prob. a survival from 17th-c. pronunciation under Latin influence.]
