Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1995
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YESTREEN, n., adv. Also yestrein (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 48), estreen (Sc. 1832 Scott Works Gl.; Abd. 1974); yestereen (Ags. 1915 V. Jacob Songs 39, m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 49), in liter. use only; yestern; and by analogy with The, 10.(3), thestrein (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl. s.v. yistrene), the streen (Abd. c.1750 Garland of Bon-Accord (1886) 25; Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 233; Rnf. 1827 W. Motherwell Minstrelsy 255; Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 104; Per., Ayr. 1915–23 Wilson; Mry. 1927 E. Levack Lossiemouth 18; Ork., n.Sc. 1974), the straine (Sc. 1818 Child Waters in Child Ballads No. 63. K. xxiv.); and I.Sc. forms da streen (Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 8; Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 322; Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 102), de streen (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Ballans 6). [jɛ′strin, n., wm.Sc. ðe -; I.Sc. dɑ -]
I. n. Yesterday evening, the night before today (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Gen.Sc.Cai. 1776 Weekly Mag. (25 Jan.) 145:
Whar's this you're gaen'? an' fu's a sin the streen?Ayr. 1785 Burns Halloween xv.:
Ae Hairst afore the Sherra-moor, I mindit as weel's yestreen.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. x.:
Ae leaf of the muckle gate has been swung to wi' yestreen's wind.Dmf. 1836 J. Mayne Siller Gun 137:
Yestreen's debauch the drunkard mourns.Slg. 1876 A. B. Grosart Poems A. Wilson I. xxxi.:
As I cam alang yestern's mornin' somebody or ither tauld me.Rxb. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xiii.:
Since yestreen just and now it's eleven o' the foreday or nearly.Edb. 1900 E. B. Strain Elmslie's Drag-net 72:
There was naebody suspected us up to yestreen.m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 21:
I mind the days as 'twere yestreen.Ags. 1954 Forfar Dispatch (18 Feb.):
Yestreen wiz a fair cocker though.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 46. 14:
Da streen is past, da moarn we never saw.
II. adv. Last night, more gen., yesterday (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 51:
Now wat ye wha I met yestreen?Sc. 1765 Sir Patrick Spens in Child Ballads No. 58 A. vii.:
Late late yestreen I saw the new moone Wi' the auld moone in hir arme.Ayr. 1780 Burns Mary Morison ii.:
Yestreen, when to the trembling string The dance gaed thro' the lighted ha'.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xiii.:
Ye will be the same lad that was for in to see her yestreen?Slk. 1824 Hogg Confessions (1874) 515:
I'm sure you heard enough about it yestreen.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
Dawvid was up b'cairts the streen.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 49:
Da streen I saw ipo da voe.Ags. 1891 Barrie Little Minister x.:
I met a man yestreen that kent your mither.Kcb. 1913 A. Anderson Later Poems 116:
I saw you late yestreen.s.Sc. 1927 Border Mag. (May) 71:
Kiss me again as eestreen.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 169:
The gret haal o' cuddings that Tammie Robison hid gotten the streen.Edb. 1991 J. K. Annand in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 19:
Yestreen I dreamed a dream
A dream was ill to dree Abd. 1991 George Bruce in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 21:
Yestreen oor telly took's tae keek aneath
the watters o Chesapeake Bay to goggle at
a monster screen-size crab witin on's love Sc. 1995 David Purves Hert's Bluid 58:
... the touers we bigged yestrein murls doun ti saund,
an synds ti heiliegoleirie in the sea.
