Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
APRILE, n. Older and Mod.Sc. form of April. Gen.Sc. [ə′prəil]Sc. 1710 Sir J. Clerk Memoirs (1892) 75:
I fell ill of a great cold in Aprile.Sc. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Underwoods, In Sc. iii. i.:
When aince Aprile has fairly come.Sc. 1983 John McDonald in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 46:
Here,
at the crossgates o Aprile,
and eternity it cam owre'm as a splairge
o licht cams owre the watter - skimmerin
wi life - (and him a sodger tae).Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet ix. 84:
A year past in Aprile.
Comb.: April(e) earand, an errand on which an April fool is sent (Sh., n.Sc., Fif., wm.Sc. 1975). See Eerant, and Gowk, n.1, 5. (6). Also one sent on such. Sh. 1975:
He made me April erran.Per. 1702 Atholl MSS. (16 April):
We have none [news] as yet which makes their assertions generally credited and the people to talk of Aprile earands.