Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EFT, adv., adj. Also aeft. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. aft, now only nautical. [ɛft Sc., but I., s.Sc. + æft]

1. adv. Towards the after part, esp. of a ship: towards, near, the stern (Sh., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Fif., Bwk., Ayr., Arg. 1950).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 114:
Pu' eft the sheet, boys, wi' your nippers!Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Maerch 7):
A whalp wags his tail frae da shooders an aeft.

2. adj. Belonging to the after part (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1950; Bnff.² 1943; Bwk.², Arg.³ 1950); back, rear, in general. Also superl. eftmaist (Bwk.³ 1950).Sc. a.1813 A. Murray Hist. Europ. Langs. (1823) II. 28:
I have heard the Scotch shepherds say, "Grup the aftmost sheep."Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 135:
The blugga-banes of the halibut were stuck in the waa o' da lodge and under the eft hinnie spot o' da sixern for luck.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 9:
I asked her fir a bag ta kerry da hen atil, bit shu said, “Man, tak her attween your haands, bit noteece it shu's aye lookin' i' your face da eft end ootermist.”