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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BYE'S, BY'S, Beis, Beez, Bees, Be's, prep., adv., conj. [bɑɪz, bi:z, bɪz]

1. prep.

(1) Except; instead of (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Lnk.³ 1938).Nai. 1927 G. Bain Dauvid Main, Seaman xi.:
But perhaps ye would like them to marry somebody else bye's you!Bnff.² 1929:
He sees naebody by's his ain faimly fae the tae week's eyn tae the tither.

(2) Compared with (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹, Fif.¹⁰, Slg.³, Lnk.³ 1938; Bnff., Edb. 2000s).Sc. 1929 N. K. Wells in Scots Mag. (Feb.) 347:
Now, James, I've just been tellin' Mr Boyndie here that ye're aff the nicht and what a gran' chance ye're gettin', by's bidin' here in a placie whaur there's nae muckle to be got.Mry.(D) 1927 E. B. Levack Stories Old Lossiemouth 9:
Weel, Mem, ye wis canny han'lt bys me.Per. 1897 C. M. Stuart Sandy Scott's Bible Class (1924) 14:
There's a gey odds on some folk, Tom, on Sabbath beis Saturday night.Fif., Lth. 1825 Jam.²:
Ye're auld beis me.Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 58:
Doubtless your cheer was great be's mine.

(3) Let alone, even less. Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 18:
Poor silly lad, he wad ne'er look to a lass, be's to lay her down.

2. adv. or conj.

(1) Compared with (what). After comparatives = than. Known to Bnff.², Abd.², Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹⁰, Lnk.³ 1938.Ags. 1927 (per Ags.¹):
Your heid's bigger beis mine.Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 114:
Yee'r an auld maan beez Aa thoakht yee wuz. You're an older man than I thought.

(2) Such as.Hdg. 1745 J. Brown in Mackenzie Life J. Brown (1918) 38:
You heard me say . . . I knew all Ovid but five words, and you know you never heard me speak anything to Mr Blyth bees that.