Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
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.

TROWTH, n. Also trouth (Rnf. 1808 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 268; Cai. 1928 John o' Groat Jnl. (17 Feb.)); trauth (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 232); throwth (Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 54); truith (Lnk. 1880 Clydesdale Readings 148, Ayr. 1896 G. Umber Idylls 155; Per., Fif. 1915–26 Wilson; Sh. 1926 Shetland Times (4 Dec.)), trüth (Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 71), treuth (Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 43), traith (Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 272; Ags. 1956 People's Journal (25 Aug.), trith (Slk. 1892 W. M. Adamson Betty Blether 62; Lnl. 1908 J. White Pen Sketches 5; Lnk. 1927 G. Rae Where Falcons Fly vi.; Lth. 1973); troth (as in Eng.), tra(a)th (Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 29; Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 11; I.Sc. 1973). Sc. forms of Eng. truth, troth (Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes xl.; Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 11; Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 3; Cai. 1973). [‡trʌuθ in all senses, in excls. also ‡trɔθ, I.Sc. trɑθ; the Eng. pronunciation truθ is now gen. exc. in Fif. treθ, Lth. trɪθ, Ork. trøθ]

Sc. form of Eng. truth.m.Sc. 1982 Douglas Fraser in Hamish Brown Poems of the Scottish Hills 8:
But still ae spell, it's trith to tell,
Will last until my deith.

Sc. usages: 1. As an int. and in various excl. or asseverative phrs., not in Eng. or arch. only, by my trowth, in trowth, guid trowth, troutha ( < aye), troth and indeed, troth atweel, -awat, indeed, in fact, upon my word, for sure.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 9–32:
Trowth I dow do na mair . . . The lave will fare the war in trouth.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 209:
Troth, you're really well named at present.s.Sc. 1787 in Burns Works (Chambers 1896) II. 49:
Guid troth, your saul and body baith War better fed, I'd gie my aith.Lnk. c.1800 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 389:
“We can fenn,” quo' Tammas Clarkson; “Troutha,” quo' Betty.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xxiv.:
“A real Scotsman — a true friend to the country.” “Ay, troth he is.”Slk. 1819 Hogg Tales (1874) 142:
In troth I'm amaist fear'd to look at it.Ags. 1851 G. Watson Rhymers' Family 44:
By my troth, they were na far aglie.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 119:
My troath, it's nae mous.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 110:
Yea ha'd mae tong'! Trath th'u'r' no' blate.Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xii.:
Troth and indeed they will do him no harm.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 29:
Güd traath! I'd rip dee open richt.Abd. 1926 M. Argo Makkin' o' John 5:
Troth-a-wat I did that.Cai. 1932 John o' Groat Jnl. (4 Nov.):
Weel, trouth, a bonnie boch ye wid be in London.Sh. 1952 Robertson and Graham Sh. Grammar 19:
Dat in traath! — Expression of surprise.Uls. 1953 Traynor:
In throth it's just like him . . . Troth, I will.

2. In form truth = Eng. troth, one's pledged word.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 171:
Death I'll sooner meet than break my truth.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads II. 120:
I'll give thee the truth of my right hand, The truth of it I'll freely gie.Per. 1835 R. Nicoll Poems 25:
Wi' a silent kiss o' love their blessed paction seal, While sittin' in their truth.

3. Phr. (the) God's truth, the absolute verity. Gen.Sc. Freq. used int. as in 1.m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 272:
What I've tauld ye is a' God's truth.