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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EENOO, adv. Sc. form of Eng. even now. Also eennu, eenow, e(i)now, e(e)nnow, e(y)noo, enou, een noo, ae noo, yenoo, -ow, a'enoo, i'now. Cf. P.L.D. § 70.1. See also Evenoo. [i(n)′nu, ɪ′nu: Sc., ne.Sc. + əi′nu:, e′nu, ei′nu, m.Sc. + jə′nu, but s.Sc. i′nʌu, jɪ′nʌu]

1. Just now, at the present time, a moment ago. Gen.Sc.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 65:
There's einow on the earth a set o' men, Wha, if they get their private pouches lin'd, Gie na a winnelstrae for a' mankind.Dmf. 1797 Edb. Mag. (Dec.) 458:
The floor i' now is just a hotchin' thrang.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxiv.:
Aweel, it may be sae — but we canna howk for't enow — we hae nae shools, for they hae taen them a' awa.Sc. 1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage II. xi.:
They're dong cheap i' the market enoo, so it's nae great compliment.s.Sc. a.1870 H. S. Riddell Poet. Wks. (1871) I. 198:
Nor haply been sae weel ye'now.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb viii.:
“Fat's been adee eenoo?” asked Peter.Sh. 1918 T. Manson Humours Peat Comm. I. 175:
Yon fower 'ill no laik dem comin een noo avaa.Lnk. 1919 G. Rae 'Tween Clyde and Tweed 51:
Up Tweed enoo the muckle heichts are cappit.Bnff. 1924 Burnie's Jeannie in Swatches 9:
Naething bit waddin rings in yer heid eynoo.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 6:
“Bring ben the loch!” yince quo “Jamie the Poyeter”; an faith A was muckle o his meind eenow.Arg. 1992:
Ye'd get it in Johnny 'Nair's, where Mick Brodie is eenoo. Arg. 1998 Angus Martin The Song of the Quern 52:
But we divna want tae think on war;
we haena got wan on ee noo.
We're leevin weel an sweir tae feel
aucht o the blast that ruint you.

2. In a short time, soon, forthwith (Sh., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Ayr. (obsol.) 1951).Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality viii.:
Oh, whisht, mother, whisht! they're upon a communing — Oh! whisht, and they'll agree weel eneugh e'enow.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 92:
We'll hae'm [a person they were pursuing] enow or he make the bit hirst.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xii.:
I'm gaen awa' to put up the lichts — they'll be gedderin' eenoo.Sh. 1898 Shet. News (20 Aug.):
I'll be in eenoo.Cai. 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 6:
'E fleed 'll be doon on's ae noo.