Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ABLE, adv. Also a(i)ble. Variant form of Aibles, perhaps. See note s.v.Rnf. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 147:
A shilling, aible aughteen-pence. Dmf. 1822 Letters T. Carlyle to his Brother (Marrs 1968) 115:
Farries might able gang awa' whanever his cairt was ready. Peb. 1838 W. Welsh Poems 56:
I think I'll aible gang to Heaven. Bwk. 1900 A.T.G. Ann. Thornlea 14, 49:
Your Kirk-Session will abil pay the piper. . . . “Abil,” Robert said, “ye maun attacked it tae the ooter yett.”
