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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AFFSET, n. (See also Offset.) [′ɑfsɛt]

1. Outset, start; an impulse (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Gen.Sc.Sh.⁴ 1931:
He's been laek dat fae da affset.Abd.² 1931:
Lat's see ye gie a gweed affset to the proceedin's.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxvii.:
At the affset o' oor matrimonial career.Ayr.⁵ 1931:
At the affset he was leading.Kcb.¹ 1931:
They were wrang frae the affset.

2. Hindrance, stoppage; anything causing this; time lost, with consequent loss of pay.Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶:
Last pay my affset was three days.Abd.² 1931:
Ye maun mak' allooance for ony affset.Id. 1931:
The lang frost was a sair affset to the fairm wark.

3. Illness, weakening of health.Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶:
John's ha'en a sair affset this while: it was a fivver. Aye, he'll fin' that affset (i.e. the effects of it) for mony a day.e.Dmf.² 1931:
Jock is verra ill the day, hei's hed a serious affset (= relapse).

4. Excuse, delay, off-putting.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 86:
Ye hae yoursell wi' yon snell maiden locked, Wha winna thole wi' affsets to be jocked.Bnff.² 1928.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 217:
Gie me the man, that on occasion Can tak an affsett o' digression.

5. Ornament. Gen.Sc.Sh.(D) 1916 J. J. H. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr Maerch 20:
Maist kings an wheens needs dir claes for a aff-set.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff.:
The bow-windows are jist the aff-set o' the new hoose.em.Sc. (a) 1896 I. Maclaren K. Carnegie 207:
Gin ye juist jined the fouk for ae field, it wud be an affset tae the day.Kcb.¹ 1931:
Thae twa chiny dugs are a rale affset to your brace (= mantelpiece).

6. Offspring, scion, progeny. Ayr. 1836 Galt in Tait's Mag. (June) 389:
Although ye were not a Lord's offspring, I cannot but recognise you as my only daughter's affset.

7. The weak movement in the sea before the change of the tide (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1949 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 130, Sh. 1975). See Set, n.¹, 1.