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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

THIR, pron., adj. Also †thirr (Sc. 1706 Seafield's Letters (S.H.S.) 177), †thire, †their; thur; and, in sense I. when used predicatively, thirs (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.) poss. arising from orig. thir is. [ðɪr]

I. pron. The pl. of this, these (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; m. and s.Sc. 1972), also in n.Eng. dial. but obsol. or obs. in n. Sc.Sc. 1705 Seafield's Letters (S.H.S.) 165:
There are of those to be laid aside who will be for the succession, and some of thire I know.Ayr. 1817 H. Campbell Wanderer 21:
O thir ye now sae much disdain.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 18:
In kittle times like thir the man might pass.Kcb. 1861 R. Quinn Heather Lintie 41:
But how thir cam' did I incline, I weel cou'd tell.s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 185:
When ‘thir' is used absolutely without a noun following, it generally becomes ‘thirs'; ‘Thirs is meyne.'Sc. 1887 Stevenson Merry Men ii.:
They're grand braws, thir that we hae gotten.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 88–89:
Tod Lowrie says thir's kittle times for property in land.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xxvii.:
I'll make a patch-work quilt o' thir!Sc. 1923 R. Macrailt Hoolachan 28:
Thir's my best Sawbath breeks, ye ken.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie In Two Tongues 30:
Thir's no the bogles That will haunt me.Gsw. 1971 M. Burgess Day before Tomorrow 15:
I've read thur, see.

II. adj. These (Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; m. and s.Sc. 1972). Freq. in the 18th c. in legal use in the formula thir presents, the present document.Gsw. 1700 Gsw. Charters (1906) II. 285:
Provideing allwayes that thir presents do no wayes prejudge the said burgh of Dumbartoun.Sc. 1706 R. Wodrow Early Letters (S.H.S.) 287:
By insisting any further on thir heads.Sc. 1720 Caled. Mercury (2 Sept.):
Thir Lands to be Sold, have been considerably let down in the Rent.Bnff. 1729 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. I. 44:
In witness whereof I have subscribed thir presents.Sc. 1776 Outlaw Murray in Child Ballads No. 305 A. xxii.:
‘Thir landis are mine,' the Outlaw said.Ayr. 1790 Burns Tam o' Shanter 155:
Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xxxix.:
The laird there bought a' thir beasts frae me.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck i.:
I heard her wi' thir lugs it's i' my ain head.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 109:
But a' thir things are an emp'y sang.Mry. 1914 H. J. Warwick Tales 135:
Ye were a richt nickum o' a loon in thir days.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 5:
Thir braes hed seen unco sichts.Sc. 1931 I. Burnett The Ravens I. iii.:
Thir MacDonalds are ettling for a quarrel.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 90:
The stuckies arna jist ma wale o burd;
It's nae gret pleisure whan thair sang is heard;
thair jaikit's bonnie but a wee thing flash ...
the tail's sae short as tae be near absurd.
Thir burdlife keelies, impident an gash,
awroads thay flee aboot the kintraside