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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

THRIFT, n., v. Also I.Sc. trift; erron. thriest. Sc. usages. [θrɪft; I.Sc. trɪft]

I. n. 1. Work, industry, profitable labour or occupation (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Per., Fif. 1972). Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 74:
Greedy Wives wi' girning thrawn Cry'd lasses up to Thrift.Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 144:
To crack broun nits was a their thrift.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxvi.:
To win a day's wage by ony honest thrift.Lnk. 1885 J. Hamilton Poems 146:
Syne comes the e'enin's cheerfu' thrift.Sh. 1964 New Shetlander No. 69. 26:
Da streen for want o better trift, I linned me ower da yard-daek neuk.Per. 1970:
I'll need awa and dae some thrift.

†2. A specific task or job, esp. knitting (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1898 Shetland News (8 Oct.):
Hüve by your trift ane of you, an' help aunty ta scraep.

3. Willingness to work, energy, enthusiasm, perseverance (Ork. 1972). Hence thriftfu', keen, eager.Kcb. a.1848 R. Kerr Maggie o' the Moss (1891) 46:
When young nane wi' ye could compare To rin a race or scent a hare . . . Auld thriftfu' tykie.Ork. 1927 H. C. Jean's Garden 8:
I had nae thrift, nor heart tae give me mind tae delling.Ork. 1929 Old-Lore Misc. IX. ii. 76:
Da common gallows hedna trift an' deudna fash 'imsel tae fitch aff o' 'is peerie creepie.

4. Prosperity, success, advantage, good luck. Obs. in Eng. Comb. and derivs.: ill-trift, bad luck, esp. used imprecatively = confound . . , the devil . . , etc. (I.Sc. 1972); thriftie, n., a child's money-box (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Edb., s.Sc. 1972), cf. n.Eng. dial. thrift-box, id.; thriftless, unprofitable, vain, useless.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 150:
He will not give an Inch of his Will, for a Span of his Thriest [sic]. Spoken of wilful and obstinate People, who will not comply with their most advantagious Proposals, if contrary to their perverse Humours.Abd. 1733 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd (1765) 31:
Then to his thrift he bid adieu.Ayr. 1829 Galt Rich Man (1925) 167:
Babby made some thriftless excuse for the absence of her mistress.Sc. 1840 Carlyle Heroes v.:
It is thriftless work doing so.Sh. 1862 Sh. Advertiser (3 Nov.):
Ill-trift sit anunder me, if I ken what doo's tinkin aboot.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliv.:
I div not think that there wud be muckle thrift in you an' me gyaun awa' buyin a twa three rigs o' grun.Dmf. 1878 R. W. Thom Jock o' Knowe 90:
Dinna grieve for me Nor wi' a thriftless sorrow mourn.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 51:
Yellow is a thriftless colour.Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 182:
The light Was hurrying hillward out o' sight As gif it seem'd it were nae thrift To shine on sic a dirty lift.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 155, 236:
What ill trift du dey do? . . . Ill trift wi dis daek. What's dis daek here fur?Ork. 1970:
Ill trift a ane, devil a one.

II. v. To thrive, to prosper (Sc. 1845 T. Brown Dict. 137). Vbl.n. thriftin in comb. ill-triftin, ill-luck, as in the malediction ill-triftin on dat face, ‘bad cess to you' (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Cf. Thrive, v., 1. (3).