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.
VAST, n. Sc. usage: a large number, a quantity or amount, a great deal (Ags. 1825 Jam.; s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 179; Cai. 1905 E.D.D.; I. and n.Sc., Bwk., Lnk., Wgt. 1973), and adv. Also in Eng. dial.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 79:
The old woman bestowed a vast of presents on Tom.Ags. 1794 W. Anderson Piper of Peebles 14:
A vast o' foak a' round about came to the feast.Slk. 1817 Hogg Tales (1874) 150:
They couldna get them sindry, else there had been a vast o' bludeshed.Ags.
1822
Caled. Mag. I. 343:
She could see a vast farrer afore her than me.e.Lth. 1842 Children in Mines Report (2). 387:
Vast of women are confined before they have time to change themsel.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxviii.:
We mak' a vast o' din. . . . I kent there were a vast o' grand new hooses oot thereawa.Kcb. 1898 T. Murray Frae the Heather 149:
I've yet a vast o' baith to do.Dmf. 1917:
She's a vast better.Abd. 1922 A. R. Birnie Jock McAndrew 14:
There's a vast o' young chaps dichtit up wi' this war.
