Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

TWAR, v.phr. Sc. form of it were (ne.Sc., Ags. 1973). Neg. 'twarna. See Na, adv.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 2:
'Twar wise cou'd we the warning take.Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 78:
Yet 'twar pity Littlefirlot, Sud descend to female heir.Abd. 1909 J. Tennant Jeannie Jaffray 223:
To inquiries for her health, her usual reply was — 'Oh, brawly, gin 'twarna for the “win's”.'Abd. 1987 Sheena Blackhall in Joy Hendry Chapman 49 57:
A mirey, dubby, tapsalteerie burn
Teirin alang a bank o' reidest thorn
Nae tinklin puil, o' tranquil blessed calm
Twar better sic a thing war niver born!