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.
Quotation dates: 1878-1994
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USELESS, adj., adv., n. Also uisless (Dmf. 1926 Scots Mag. (March) 438), yaiseless; yisliss (Lnk. 1926 W. Queen We're a' Coortin 29), ösless (Sh.); ¶wishless (Arg. 1882 Argyllshire Herald (3 June)). Sc. forms and usages. [′jɪslɪs, ′øs-]
Sc. forms:ne.Sc. 1994 Alison Mann in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 194:
But I wad hae nane o it. Aa I cud foresee wis yaiseless expense wi nae guid ootcome. In ma experience it's niver been ony yuise tainglin wi the gentry. Ye canna win agin them.
Sc. usages: I. adj. Indisposed in health, unable from illness or exhaustion for any activity (I. and n.Sc. 1973).Sh. 1928 Manson's Almanac 186:
An' dis day or twa A'm been fair ösless.Kcb. c.1930:
"Ye're gey waff-lookin' the day." "Deed aye, I've juist been gey useless."Abd. 1960:
I was useless for mair nor a week efter that flu.
II. adv. Governing an adj.: exceedingly, so much as to be ineffectual, far too (Ags., Fif., Ayr. 1973).Per. 1878 R. Ford Hamespun Lays 18:
This cud' was ower big, the neist rather wee, That, useless auld, or 'twould dune to a tee.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 13:
The maid has put on useless many coals.Sc. 1891 N. Dickson Kirk Beadle 115:
But she's useless big — she's got nae laft, an' she's sair fashed wi' thae muckle pillars about her.
III. n. The flower lady's thumb. Polygonum persicaria (see quot.).Per. 1904 E.D.D.:
The Virgin Mary (the blotch on its leaves are the marks of her fingers) plucked up the plant and threw it away, saying 'that's useless'; and Useless has been its name ever since.