Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1701-1972
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TIME, n. Also teime (Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith 'Mang Howes 18), toime (Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 322), †tym-, and in unstressed position tim (Sc. 1935 Sc. One Act Plays (Reid) 170), common in m.Sc. Sc. forms and usages. [təim; unstressed tɪm]
1. As in Eng. Sc. combs., phrs. and deriv.: (1) a time or twa, once or twice (Sc. 1905 E.D.D.; Sh., n.Sc., Per. 1972). Also in n.Eng. dial.; (2) at aa time, at any or all times. Gen.Sc.; (3) at a time, at times, now and again, occasionally (Sh., n., em.Sc., s.Sc. 1972); (4) by a time, id.; (5) by times, gradually, in instalments; (6) in aa time, betimes, in plenty of time, early (Abd. 1972); (7) in (all) time coming, for all time to come, for the indefinite future. Gen.Sc.; (8) oot o' time, dead, passed away (Cai. 1905 E.D.D.); (9) the time that, while, during the time that (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Gen.Sc.; (10) this side of time, in this world, while life lasts (Sh., ne.Sc., Ayr. 1972), freq. in neg. sentences = never more; (11) time about, alternately, in turn (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 50). Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial.; (12) timey, see quot.; (13) time o' day, (i) a clock, a time-piece (Sh., n., em.Sc. (b) 1972); (ii) the appropriate time, the proper season or juncture, freq. ironically, as in (a fine) time o' day, a pretty pass (Sc. 1905 E.D.D.; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc.; (iii) as in Eng., of salutations: a polite greeting, a civility; hence by extension in 1837 quot. a glass of liquor, a dram; also ironically, a drubbing, a severe manhandling or reproof, one's quietus (Lnk., Ayr. 1972). Gen. in phrs. to get or gie the time o' day.(1) Per. 1972:
I rang ye up a time or twa but got nae answer.(2) Abd. 1966 Huntly Express (30 Sept.) 2:
Yon lads is wan'erin' the road at a' time evnoo.(3) m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 67:
They're best tae my taste in their nat'ral state, — unless it be a bit skeegin' o' sugar at a time!Abd. 1970:
I've seen me dae that mysel at a time.(4) Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 26:
A Horse with four Feet may snapper, by a Time.Gall. 1888 G. G. B. Sproat Rose o' Dalma Linn 107:
A man's nocht the waur bein' fou by a time.(5) Cai. 1939 Scots Mag. (May) 94:
Barnie's promised to let me pay it by times.(6) Abd. 1928 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (20 Sept.) 6:
Ye'll be in a' time.(7) Abd. 1701 Records Old Abd. (S.C.) II. 103:
To prevent the lyke in tyme coming.Ags. 1777 Dundee Weekly Mag. (9 May) 336:
To take the bell from his cart, and blow with a horn in all time coming.(9) Wgt. 1723 Session Bk. Wgt. (1934) 322:
They take it under an avisandum the time that he shall apply for sealing ordinances.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 241:
I'll be reamin' a bowl o' milk the time ye're gettin' oot the pickin' frae ben the house.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 22:
A thocht ee'd come ti the door the teime that A was oot.Abd. 1959:
The time at I was at the hyow, they were amon' the hey.(10) s.Sc. 1898 E. Hamilton Mawkin xii.:
Once lay him on the trail, and I'll wad my soul he'll no leave it this side of time.(11) Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 155:
When little Midges frisk in lazy Air, And Time about how up and down they wheel.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 272:
A protestant emperor should be chosen time about with a popish.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
It is used in the vulgar Proverb, Time about's fair play.Sc. 1855 Scotticisms Corrected 19:
Let us read time about.Wgt. 1897 66th Report Brit. Ass. 491:
He saw the fairies riding 'time aboot' round the knoll on the goat's back.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 22:
Oo've duist aye ti taik oor hoalidays teime aboot.(12) Ags. 1934 G. M. Martin Dundee Worthies 178:
In the game of Mites [see Mite, n., 3. (3)] … according to the weight of brass, a valuation was made; a large button could be a"Twa Timey","Three Timey", etc.(13) (i) Abd. 1970 Huntly Express (6 March) 2:
There's nae a time o' day here.(ii) Sc. 1736 Ramsay Proverbs (1776) 73:
Time o' day to find the nest when the birds are flown.Dmb. 1844 W. Cross Disruption vii.:
Your auntie is no past the time o' day yet for jumping at a man.(iii) wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 194:
The sergeant wouldna let me ower the door-stane till I would tak' my time o' day frae him.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 58:
Dey saw t'ree veelant great arkmaes ferkian' like mad i' the net. An' de peur selkies seun got deir time o' day.
2. The journey once across a field in ploughing, harrowing, etc. Also n.Eng. dial.Bwk. 1809 R. Kerr Agric. Bwk. 198:
The completest harrowing is called a double double time; in which the harrow goes four times successively over the same range.Sc. 1857 N. and Q. (2nd Series) IV. 80:
A time . . . is the act of once furrowing between two ploughings.
3. A fuss, a great to-do, gen. in a pleasurably excited sense. Occas. in pl. with def. art. in phr. to have the times, to be in the thick of things. Phr. to haud a time wi, to make a fuss of, to sport or dally with (Sh., n.Sc. 1972).Arg. 1898 N. Munro J. Splendid xxxi.:
Ah, lad, lad! Haven't we the times?Abd. 1899 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 65:
She haes been hauddin' a sair time speakin' aboot ye.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (4 Aug.):
Da lasses is hadden dem a time aboot her.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xiv.:
When Ah'm in the business, Ah'll have the times.
