Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

A'THING, Awthing, Aathing, Awhing, pron. Everything. See also A', adj. [The main forms are ′ǫ:θɪŋ and ′ɑ:θɪŋ; see A', adj., and Thing.]

1. Gen.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 47:
an awthing skyre an lusum tae the sicht;
lik the suin's sel yir bonnie face is bricht,
tint in his warth sic bewtie hesna seen. m.Sc. 1989 Martin Bowman and Bill Findlay The Guid Sisters 65:
But ye ken fine ye've tried awhing. The doactirs've aw tellt ye there's nothin ye can dae aboot it.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 33:
Süne he was as chief as ye like wi' some o' them that had been ca'in him for a'thing.Rxb. 1897 J. C. Dibdin Sc. Border Life 57:
That awthing that awbody had dune would be read ower tae them oot o' a muckle buik.

2. Special use. A call used in playing the game of “bools” or marbles.Mry.(D) 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sketches (1908) 105:
Fain everything, fain a'thing, fain upsies an' fain doonsies.ne.Abd. 1905 W.M. in E.D.D. Suppl.:
If one wishes to have every advantage in this play, he shouts “a'thing”; then he may demand the removal of an obstacle, i.e. “clearances,” or he may shift to a better position at the same distance, etc., etc. To deprive an opponent of these advantages one has to shout “naething.”

3. Comb.: Johnnie (etc.) A'thing (see quot.).Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 43:
J — ie (etc.) A'thing (or A'things), one who keeps a general store.