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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

GAD, n.³, int. Also gyad; gyaad (Bnff. 1990s);  gyads (Rs., Arg.);  gaad, ga(w)ds. An altered form of God, used as in Eng. as a mild oath, but esp. in Sc. as an excl. of disgust at the sight, taste or touch of anything unsavoury. Gen.(exc. s.)Sc. Also gaadge (Sh. 1953); and phrs. giddy gaad (Ork.¹ 1943), gaddy lardy (Ayr.⁴ 1928), g(y)ad be here, gad'll murder. [gɑ(:)d(z), gjɑ:d (see P.L.D. § 141)]Abd. 1887 [J. Cowe] Jeems Sim 7:
G'yad behere, he says tae me in a whisper.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. xx.:
“Gyeed gyad,” said Golly Michie, turning out his jacket pocket and up his nose.Ags. 1912 A. Reid Forfar Worthies 84:
Gad'll murder, grannie! they [porridge]'re a' cauld! An' there's nae saut nor naething.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Back o' Benachie 29:
Gad be here, there's a chucken in't [egg], an' I'm fair scunnert wi't!Abd.⁷ 1925:
When nauseous medicine is administered or taken, the person taking it will utter, “Gad,” or “Lard.”wm.Sc. 1983 William McIlvanney The Papers of Tony Veitch 123:
'The Bar-L.' Macey shuddered. 'Gads.' He had only been in Glasgow's prison once. He had no plans for going back. ne.Sc. 1990 Rosemary Mackay in Hamish Whyte and Janice Galloway New Writing Scotland 8: The Day I Met the Queen Mother 79:
She shuddered as she heard the plop in the sink. 'Bloody bronchitis. Look at it. Come and look.' But she had been caught too often before, as a younger child: 'I'm not looking at that. Gads.' She grabbed up the coal-scuttle and passed him on her way to the door. 'It's as green as...' She slammed the door on his words, but her mind shot them with more detail than she could muster. 'Gads, gads, gads.'