Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
BID, v. and n.1
1. v.
(1) To invite; arch. or dial. in Eng. (N.E.D.). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1885 E. J. Guthrie Old Sc. Customs 126:
The mode of invitation was by a special messenger. This was styled "bidding to the funeral."Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh.4 1934:
De cat is “biddin' in,” the cat “invites”: raises one of its hind-legs, while in a sitting posture, and licks its tail, which is supposed to foretell the coming of visitors.Sh.(D) 1931 J. J. H. Burgess in Sh. Almanac Companion 186:
Neist day wis Monanday, an' da folk wis biddin' ta da weddin'.Ork. 1905 W. T. Dennison Ork. Weddings and W. Customs 27:
On the second week of the proclamation of banns, the wedding guests were invited to meet at the bride's father's house, on Thursday of the following week about 10 o'clock forenoon. This was called “Bidding the folk.”Abd. 1928 N. Shepherd Quarry Wood v.:
Ye were bidden to tea an' ye'll bide to tea.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin and Marget 10:
She was sayin that that fule, Mistress Gooslin, is to hae a tea pairty at Christenmas, an' she's no to bid oor neebor nor me till't.
(2) To desire.Ayr. publ. 1834 Burns Ep. to Major W. Logan (Cent. ed.) viii.:
We, cheek for chow, shall jog thegither — I'se ne'er bid better!
Phrs.: (1) to be better bidden, to have a better offer, esp. of marriage; (2) to bid the time o' day, “to say good-morning, or any similar salutation” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.). (1) Rxb. 1876 N. Elliott N. Macpherson 25:
Nae Kirsty o your's-Kirsty's better bidden, let me tell ye that.
2. n. (See quot.)Sh.4 1934; e.Dmf. 1927 D. J. Beattie in Eskdale and Langholm Advertiser (Nov.) 4:
Bid, an invitation to a wedding.
Comb.: fiddler's-bid, “a late invitation to a wedding” (Ib.).
[O.Sc. bid, byd, etc., to request, command, invite, from O.E. biddan, to pray, but also partly representing O.E. bēodan, to offer, to announce, invite, challenge to a fight. See Bad, v.1]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Bid v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bid>
