Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1760-1972
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YEA, adv., n. Also yae, ye(a)h, and in reduplic. form yea yea; †yake in Heriot's Hospital Slang. Sc. forms and usages, now only dial. in Eng. [je]
I. adv. 1. (1) As the affirmative particle, indicating assent in answer to a question or as a positive expression of agreement, yes, indeed, truly (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1952 Robertson & Graham Sh. Dial. 19; Sh., Ork., ‡ne.Sc., Ags., 1974).Fif. 1760 Session Papers, Farmer v. Myles (12 Jan.) 13:
Do you incline that I should sign it for you? To which she answered, Yea, yea, or yes, yes.Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 591:
Yea, du mey stumse, du ill viandit teef it du iz.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 13:
"O yea tae you, sir!" quo Bessie.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (11 Sept.):
Yea, yea, jimp i' my tap! Hit's a winder 'at doo's no blemt mi.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie W. Crighton 76:
Wul ye come? Say yake or nay at yince.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 28:
Bit leuk doo at my bits o' best claes, yea uggled [after a fall].Sh. 1972 New Shetlander No. 100. 25:
Yeah, du is richt dere.
(2) used quasi-interrog. to indicate surprise or disbelief: really?, do you say so? (ne.Sc. 1974, yea (yea)).Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Yonderton 106:
O yea, ye've kent 'im a' that time hiv ye?Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 24:
Yea; d'ye think sae, Tammas?Ags. 1905 A. N. Simpson Bobbie Guthrie 64:
"We were just thinkin' aboot ye." "Yea." "Aye."Abd. 1952 Ballads (Gsw. Ball. Club) V. 54:
"She's gey sair come-at aboot Jeemsie, I doot". "Yea? I saw nae odds on 'er face".
(3) used derisively, as an expression of contempt (Abd., Ags. 1974, yea yea!).Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters vii.:
"Yeh! Yeh! Yeh!" the cries of execration and contempt pursued him as he ran.
2. Phrs.: (1) gen. in contracted forms. yaal (Abd. 1825 Jam.), yail, yale, yell (Ags., Per. 1825 Jam.), yellie, -y ( < y(e)a, will (ye)), ya wilt thou, reduced yaalta (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 212), yalto, yaltie, yelta, -tou, -tow, yaltoco ( < yea wilt thou, quo (thou), all as expressions of surprise at the supposed effrontery of another, mingled with admonition and defiance, = Eng. "you would, would you?; be careful, just stop it, not so fast, that's enough, now" (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.). Also in exclam. phr. what the yeltow, what the devil, in expressions of annoyance. Obs. or arch.; (2) yea 'at o'd ( < yea, that o(f) it), as an exclamation of outraged surprise: just think of it, did you ever? (Cai. 1905 E.D.D.); (3) yea wud ( < yea would (he)), implying that the person concerned did the exact opposite of what was expected or requested.(1) Cai. 1776 Weekly Mag. (25 Jan.) 146:
An' that she'll find: if Britain anes cries Yaul! She'll at her feet like ony puddock sprawl.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 209:
What the yeltow lass, shouldna ye be ready whan I'm ready.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems xix.:
I lat you ha'e't, a while! Na, yelly, I wad be laith.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 21:
But yaltie billies, steek your gab.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads II. 175:
'Ya, wilt thou?' said Wallace, 'then tak thee that.'Ags. a.1823 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (1883) 177:
"Yelta billie," quo' the Kelpie, "I carena for your threats — God help ye!"Sc. 1825 Jam.:
The king said, Sail; The wind said, Yail.ne.Sc. 1832 P. Buchan Secret Songs 103:
Hearing a' that was propos'd, Cries Yall! quoth she, we'll durk it.Ags. 1897 Arbroath Guide (15 May) 3:
I thocht to get ten pund for three bawbees, but yeltie lad, Robin, I had to gie tippence for't.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 65:
What the yeltow maks you come doon there for, without a snibble in your hutch?(2) Cai. 1922 J. Horne Poems 110:
I'll do nothing o' 'e kind! Yea 'at o'd!(3) Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 126:
I cried on him to come back, but, yea wud!
3. Before a verb used for a second time in a sentence: again, once more, over and over, repeating the action already described (ne. Sc. 1974). Cf. Better, 2.Abd. 1871 R. Matheson Poems 88:
Sae said I than, an' yea-say noo.Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 214:
Fat's been threepit, an' yea-threepit i' oor witters b' them that's sibbest till's.Abd. 1932 Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 100:
A chappit an' yea-chappit.Abd. 1968:
He tried and yea tried — he tried and tried again, kept on trying.
II. n. The answer 'yes'. Phr. aa be de yea, yes, certainly, very well then, in Sh. Sea-taboo usage. ? Cf. Eng. dial. by yea (and nay), of an asseveration. The phr. however is formally obscure and may represent a corruption of some Norse expression.Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 35. 13:
"Doo'l tak da peerie boy wie de" said Jarm. "Aa be de yea. Let him bide."
