Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ABIR, AABER, AWBER, v. and n. (Only Ork.) [′ɑ:bər]

1. v. To thresh corn partially.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orc. Sk. Bk. 41:
Nee winder if the're nee vi't'al on the shaev's; for the geudman bad' me awber them.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
To half-thresh a sheaf, knock most of the oats off but not all. Usually in phrase — “aaber a sheaf for the horse” — i.e. knock the bulk of the grain off but leave some on for the horse to eat with the straw.[The form abin appears in Stat. Acc.² XV. Orkney, p. 95, with meaning as above — viz. “to thrash half a sheaf for giving horses”; so also Edm. Gl. Dr Marwick is of the opinion that this abin is a ghost word, a misprint for abir.]

2. n. A sheaf of grain half-threshed.Ork. 1845 R. Scarth in Stat. Acc.² XV. Ork. 95:
Abir.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orc. Sk. Bk. 41:
Wha ever heard o' hangin' up awbers for callowan' kye!Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.