Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1894
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X, n., letter of the alphabet. The twenty-fourth letter of the alphabet, as in Eng. called ex [ɛks, eks] (Bnff. 1836 Ellis E.E.P. V. 777; Ags. 1920 D. H. Edwards Men and Manners 216), and representing the double consonant ks, of Teutonic, Latin or Greek origin. Sc. gen. follows Eng. in sounding medial x as [gz] between an unstressed and a stressed vowel, esp. in words beginning with the prefix ex-, as exact, example, exile, also in except [ɪg′zɛp] (Rxb. 1942 Zai). I.Sc. and Highland speakers however tend to say [ks] in all cases. The [k] is dropped in anxious [′ɑŋ ʃes], and in Unction, auction.
Etymologically x has the same origins as in Eng. It occurs also, through metathesis of O.E. sc, in Ax, to ask, as also in Eng. dial. The [k] has been dropped in owsen, oxen (see Owse, and note) and occas. in consonantal clusters as Neist, next ( < O.E. nhsta), Assle-tree ( < O.N. xultré), Assle-tuith ( < O.N. jaxl).
The name of the letter appears in the phr. x('s) and o's [′eks(ɪz)ən′oz)], exy-oey, the game of noughts and crosses (Kcb. 1896 Crockett Raiders x.). Gen.Sc.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 11:
Is that the same as exy-oey we used to play at on oor sklates at the schule?
There are no words peculiar to Sc. beginning with x.
