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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FORDER, adv., adj., v., n. Also furder, †foorder, †fuirder; fordther (Uls.); forther. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. further. See D, 4.

I. adv. As in Eng. (Sh., ne.Sc., Wgt. 1953).Bwk. 1714 Stitchill Court Bk. (S.H.S.) 171:
All Acts are renewed anent the Keiping of swine and furder dischairges Keeping of swyne . . . excepting within crooves and clos houses.n.Sc. c.1810 Beggar Laddie in Child Ballads No. 280 A vi.:
They gaed on, an furder on, Till they came to yon borrous-toun.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 244:
An mair, an' forder, suppose the comet tae flee in atween twa o' the stane pillars.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 174:
I'll stan' you . . . a noggin o' yill whether ye come ony forder or no.Abd. 1909 G. Greig Mains's Wooin' 35:
Noo, Souter, is't you or me that's to mak' this speech? Afore I proceed ony forder, is't you or me?em.Sc.(a) 1991 Kate Armstrong in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 113:
Aye we spak owre muckle, didnae hear
furder ahint nor the thrapple, nor speir

II. adj. 1. As in Eng.Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 3:
There's nae forder eese for ye here.

†2. Front, fore, of limbs. Obs. in Eng. c.1600.Sc. c.1800 in R. Ford Vagabond Songs (1904) 155:
She rappit and she chappit Wi' her twa forther hooves.

III. v. 1. As in Eng., to promote, drive forward, help on (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 21; Sh., ne.Sc., Wgt. 1953); to assist, succour, help.Per. 1766 A. Nicol Poems 40:
I belsh out oaths, and curse and ban, When to it I'm furdert.Kcb. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 72:
Here Discord strave new broils to forder.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 8:
“Mungo! Mungo! Maggie furder!” There's nought at hame but fire an' murder.Ayr. 1869 J. Stirrat Poems 36:
The Kirk's prosperity to foorder.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vii.:
Wae, wae, to the men that forder sic unsanctifiet wark.Sc.(E) 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ ii.ix.:
Whither halie buiks or bonnie discourses, whither sweet saums an' sangs, a' thir forder little.

Phr.: †forder-'im-hither, n., any piece of showy dress, displayed by a belle, in order to attract the attention of young men, and induce them to pay court to her (Fif. 1825 Jam.).

2. To make progress, to advance, thrive (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc., Bwk., Wgt. 1953). Obs. in Eng.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 182:
Wha fastest rides does aft least forder.Ayr. 1796 Burns Highland Balou iii.:
Thro' the Lawlands, o'er the Border, Weel, my babie, may thou forder.Dmf. 1825 Jam.:
“Weel forder ye!” Well may you speed!Wgt. 1904 J. F. Cannon Whithorn 54:
The show-folk aye forders best whaur the Established Kirk can count a majority.

IV. n. Progress, speed, esp. in phr. guid forder, good luck! (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Uls.⁴ 1953).Ayr. 1786 Burns 3rd Ep. to J. Lapraik i.:
Guid speed and furder to you Johnnie.Ayr. 1873 A. Aitken Poems 76:
In honest auld ploughman style I wish ye guid forder.Uls. 1931 Northern Whig (11 Dec.) 13:
“Guid fordther tae ye” wishes you success in any venture.