Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GUID, adj., adv., n., v. Also gude, g(e)ud, †guide, gid; gede (Ags. 1868 G. Webster Strathbrachan II. xii.); göd (Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 6, 1933 J. Nicolson Hentilagets 19), göid, gjöd (Sh.); †gied (Per. 1773 in R. Fergusson Poems (Grosart 1879) 76); geed (Ib. 73; Cai.); gweed, †gweid, †gueed(e), †guede (ne.Sc.). [I., m., s.Sc. gød, gyd, gɪd, Sh. + gjød, Ags. + ge:d; ne.Sc. gwi:d; w.Per., Cai. gi:d]

I. adj.

Sc. forms of Eng. good.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 5:
" ... Geud company, geud at makkin' me laugh, a grand kisser, an' geud at payin' me compleements. No aafil weel aff, bit chenerous wi' his money. ..."Abd. 1991 David Ogston in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 117:
Cameron wis gweed eneuch
Tae gie's a lift faan
We wis ready for Wellshill.m.Sc. 1992 Maureen Sangster in Elizabeth Burns et al. Original Prints Four 112:
O when ye pit yer hand doon
tae the place it fits
it feels like gid sweet sherry works
bamboozlin tae the witsm.Sc. 1997 Liz Niven Past Presents 18:
Dae ye ken whit a guid hing is?
Weel, ye fling open yer windae,
Plant her elbows ower the ledge
An hae a guid gowp oot.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 19:
'That'd be guid,' said Carlin. 'I would need tae know, ken.'

Sc. usages:

1. Of good social standing, respectable (Sh., ne. and m.Sc., Uls. 1955). Obs. since 16th c. in Eng. exc. in arch. phr. good men and true.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Many a quarrel . . . has been produced at school, by the use of this term . . . “You are no sae gude as me;” i.e. “You are not so well-born.”m.Lth., Bwk. 1955:
Often used in conversation about marriage: “She's no guid enough for him.”

2. Corr. Eng. best: (1) of clothes: formal, “Sunday best.” Gen.Sc. Comb. gude-anes Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., guid yins), id.; (2) of a room: the best, i.e. that reserved for formal reception (wm.Sc., Kcb., Rxb. 1955); (3) of things: best.(1) Lth., Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
“She canna cum ben, for she hasna her gude-anes on;” She cannot make her appearance, as not being dressed.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick v.:
Ye micht ha' thocht I was some young quean bein buskit for her waddin. . . . She got my guid-anes oot o' the kist.Gsw. 1955 Bulletin (26 Nov.):
I even manage to change into my “good” dress by the time the doorbell rings.(2) Ork. 1936 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 226:
The kitchen is for the rank and file, but to the good room, that Holy of Holies, only a privileged few are admitted.(3) em.Sc. 1986 Ian Rankin The Flood 26:
His father brought out a bottle of whisky and two of the good glasses so that they could discuss things in the proper tones.

3. = Easy, in neg. constructions with the gerund, gen. to haena gude —, to find it difficult to — (I. and ne.Sc., Ags. 1955). See also Hae, v.¹ B. 2. (4).Fif. 1839 Wilson's Tales of the Borders V. 92:
When I get on thae auld stories, I haena guid gettin aff them again.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd iii.:
As for bidin' anither nicht, ye see I hinna guid deein' that wi' naebody at hame bit Meggie an' yon daftie Tam.Sh. 1923 Shetlander No. 3. 2:
I haena gude maakin' o a keeshie now wi' da want o teeth.Kcd. 1956 Abd. Univ. Review (Spring) 295:
It's nae gweed kennin' fat a body sud dee.

4. Derivs.: (1) gudeless, adj., devoid of good, worthless, in phr. neither gudeless nor ill-less, neither positively good nor positively bad, neither beneficial nor harmful (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.), mediocre. Also contr. to adj. comb. gudeless ill-less, ill-less, gweedless (see Illess) of a person: insipid, having little individuality or force of character. In the above sense obs. in Eng. since 16th c.; (2) guidly, (a) adj. = Eng. goodly, of good appearance, quantity, size or quality, splendid. For goodly neighbour, see 7. (20); †(b) adv., sincerely, with a good conscience (Abd. 1825 Jam.); (3) guidness, guedness, n., goodness, in exclam. phrs. as in Eng. = God, e.g. by guidness, guidness be here, — betide us, — guide us. Gen.Sc. Cf. n. 5. (1).(1) Abd. a.1880 W. Robbie Yonderton (1929) 118:
Maister Mair's prayers . . . aw doot they're some gweedless ill-less kine, like the priests' holy watter.Kcd. 1899 A. C. Cameron Fettercairn 279:
“Ou, aye, sir,” she said, “it's a guidless, ill-less beastie juist like yersel'.”(2) (a) Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 56:
Tak tent, ye Regents! then, an' hear My list o' gudely hamel gear.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 142:
An' sae it is, a strappin', guidlie queen.Lnk. 1865 J. Hamilton Poems 80:
O' scones an' cheese a guidly whang.em.Sc. 1920 J. Black Airtin' Hame 16:
Gudely it is when it's weel applied, And far ayont titles.(b) Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 336:
Tho' sma' the gift, I'm baul' to send it, But canna guidly recommend it, Altho' my dawty.(3) Edb. 1801 J. Thomson Poems 68:
That Gudeness now wad for her send, That was my pray'r.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Cal. I. vi.:
Aich! Gudeness guide us, mother, am I no up yet!Per. 1842 R. Nicoll Poems 76:
Wi' beck an' wi' bow, and wi' “Goodness be here!” He trampit in o'er to the ingle.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 294:
Ye're weetin' yer freen'ship? ye tipplin' loons — Get up, or, by gudeness, I'll spleet a' yer croons.Abd. 1916 Hamespun Rhymes 14:
They ca'd the clock Bawbie! — guidness betide her!wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 53:
Fine sichts Ah saw wi ma ain twa een
That proved hoo weel peyed back Ah've been
Fur a' ma guidness. m.Sc. 1992 Claire MacRae in Janice Galloway and Hamish Whyte New Writing Scotland 10: Pig Squealing 112:
For GUEDNESS SAKE try and pay attention.

5. In Gen.Sc. combs. denoting a relation by marriage = Eng. -in-law: guid billie, a brother-in-law; -brither, id.; -dochter; -father (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 244; Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., güdfaeder), -mither (Kcb. 1827 Curriehill; Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., güdmidder), -sister (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.), -son (Sc. 1818 Sawers); -parents, parents-in-law.  Formerly used in e.An. dial. Cf. also note to Guid-dame and Fr. beau-père, belle-mère, etc. Guid-father, -mither are also used = stepfather, -mother (Sc. 1808 Jam.) and -mither = mistress of the house (Sc. 1818 Sawers), now obs.Kcb. 1700 Session Bk. Minnigaff (1939) 33:
M.F. . . . come to her goodsons door and did abuse him . . . and did beat my good daughter.Wgt. 1704 Session Bk. Wigtown (1934) 64:
The said wife of Baillie James M'Kie . . . being interrogate what was the occasion of her meeting with her good sister upon the Communion Sabbath?Sc. 1716 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 70:
Auld Steen led out Maggie Forsyth, He was her ain Good-brither.Sc. 1737 Ramsay Proverbs (1776) 11:
A green turf's a good good-mother.Per. c.1800 Charlie Macpherson in Child Ballads No. 234 A. iii.:
Open your yetts, mistress, an lat us come in! For here's a commission come frae your gude-son.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xl.:
If ye hae business wi' my gude-daughter, or my son, they'll be in belive.Sc. 1827 G. R. Kinloch Ballads 164:
Now caw out your kye, gudefather.Dmf. 1863 R. Quinn Heather Lintie 39:
Gude billie, I maun nae wise ca' ye, Lest doon amang the clarts I draw ye.Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 180:
Sandy wud maist face his nain gweed-mither aiven.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 18:
Her geud-douchter . . . prayed her for de love o' heevan tae come oot o' the hoose, or sheu wad be brunt.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet ix.:
Tam Rogerson's wife's guid-brither's auntie.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 42:
Bit gin ye maan hae a gweedsin, fat say ye te Jimmie here?m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood v.:
The laird's gude-sister, Mistress Saintserf frae Embro.Sc. 1947 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 218:
I canna tak' this tae Mackay an' tell him my ain guid-feyther poachit it!wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 46:
The boys enjoyed having an attractive and homeloving gude-sister who added comfort to their lives by doubling the amount of spinning and sewing done in the cot, and quickly learning the art of feeding labouring menfolk. wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 88:
Ann set out to fill her place as his wife and, to the pleasure and surprise of her gude-parents, from the first held a firmer rein on her wayward husband than he had ever heeded. Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 78:
Liza felt very unhappy with her good-sisters, yet she wis a happy-go-lucky lassie and she bade intae a wee roomie in the guest-row. ... Her reception wis always very cauld. Even at Christmas time she [the mother-in-law] wid give aa her good-daughters nice presents but she didnae give Liza even a smaa gift. Ags. 1990s:
Guid-mither: mother-in-law. Guid-faither: father-in-law. em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 71:
'I hae a mind tae visit the Bass. I was speirin ma guidfaither aboot it earlier. ... '

6. Real, genuine, not counterfeit. Now obs. in Eng. Phr. like (a) guid een(s), as if to the manner born, in a natural way, “quite the thing” (Sh. 1955).Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. v. 173:
And sittin' on the cungles three o' them playing' awa' like guid eens.Sh.¹⁰ 1955:
Him cleanin da fireside lek a guid een, readin his book lek a guid een.Bnff. 1955 Banffshire Jnl. (22 March):
I spoke till a “wax work” figure or I kent fat I wis daein'. . . . Bit aifter hin I saw that she wisna a gweed ane, either!

7. Gen. Phrs. and Combs.: (1) a or ‡some guid mair, ellipt. = a good many more (Abd., Ags. 1955); (2) as gude as, as much as, practically, specif. in Sc. before measures and quantities (Sh., m.Lth., Bwk., Kcb., Uls. 1955); (3) guid and weel, well and good, so be it (Sh., n., m. and s.Sc. 1955); (4) gude-anes, see adj., 2. (1) and 6. above; (5) gweed-aucht, a worth-while possession, a treasure (Abd.⁷ 1925). See Aucht, n.², 2. (2); (6) guid bit, a long time (Sc. 1900 E.D.D.; Bnff. 1927; Sh., m.Lth., Bwk., wm.Sc., Kcb., Rxb. 1955). Also in n.Eng. and Lon. dial. Phr. a guid bit syne, a long time ago (Id.). See further Bit, n.; (7) guid-bluid, a man of good courage, a brave fellow (Bnff. 1927); (8) Gude Book, the Bible, always with def. art. Gen.Sc.; (9) gude breed, “bread baked for marriages, baptisms, and funerals” (Bwk. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., guid breed), the bread used at Communion (Rxb. 1955); (10) gweed breids, adv., in good favour. Cf. in bad bread, in disfavour, s.v. Breid, n.; (11) good deed, guideed, giddeed, †(a) n., a bribe, favour [O.Sc. guid deid, a benefit, 1616]; (b) adv., in very deed, indeed, certainly, used with mild imprecatory force (Ork. 1911 Handbook Ork. Islands 145, gae deed, 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 151; Sh., Ork. 1955). Also in 17th c. Eng.; (12) guid een, see 6. above; (13) guid few, see Few; ‡(14) guid folk (fiks), (a) fairies, brownies, elves (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Cld. 1880 Jam.; Sh., Abd., Ags., Ayr. 1955). Now mostly liter. Cf. (20) and (22); (b) the ordinary (respectable) people; (15) gude forder, see Forder; (16) gude-fores, see Fore, n., 5.; (17) gweed-fraucht-it, -y, generous (Abd. 1923 H. Beaton Benachie 215, 233). See Fraucht; (18) gude-gree, see Gree, n.³; (19) Guid Man, God. Gen. in children's lang. and always with def. art. (Ayr. 1880–90; Gall. 1900 E.D.D.; Sh., ne. and wm.Sc. 1955); (20) gude neebor, a name given to a fairy or brownie. Also goodly —. Cf. (14) (a) and (22); (21) good-neighbourhood, see Neibourheid; (22) good people, the fairies, an anglicised form of (14) (a). Also in Eng. and Ir. dial.; (23) gude-place, Heaven, see Place; (24) guid rest, a wish for a good sleep, good night!; (25) good room, see 2. (2); (26) gud-ta-true, adj., worthy of belief, credible (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., misprinted -tree); †(27) gude Thursday, the Thursday preceding Good Friday, Maundy Thursday; (28) guid toun, a commendatory title given to a town, now mostly with reference to Edinburgh; (29) gude words, prayers or other devotional formulæ, gen. referring to those repeated by a child (Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 217; I., n.Sc., Ags., Fif., Ayr., Uls. 1955). Also dim. -wordies, -wirdies; (30) the guid Scots tongue, the Scots language; (31) to (be)come guid for, to be surety for (Ork., Cai., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., Kcb., Rxb. 1955). See also Come, v., II. 11.; †(32) to be good my part, to be right, proper, fitting for me (to do something); (33) to gar (someane) as gude, to pay someone back in his own coin. See Gar, v.², 1., Phr. (2); (34) to gie as gude, to give as much (in retaliation) (Sh., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., Bwk., Ayr. 1955). Cf. to gar as gude, id., s.v. Gar, v.²(1) Abd. 1787 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) Intro. 25:
Sae, what avails a leash o' lair Thro' sev'n lang years, and some guid mair.Abd. 1809 J. Skinner Amusements 77:
It's seven year, and some guid mair, Syn Dutch Mynheer made courtship till her.(2) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
Ye have as gude's a pund wecht. There were as gude as twenty there.s.Sc. a.1835 Wilson's Tales of the Borders (1858) XVII. 181:
I had as good as five glasses .Cai. 1900 E.D.D.:
As geed as twenty.(3) Per. c.1850 G. Jacque Herd Laddie 24:
If it's His wull to open a way for me, guid and weel.(7) Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 160:
'Twas nae thro' lack o' doughty lads That lut them carry aff sic blawds; . . . An' lut our guid-bluids a' be kill'd.(8) Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 79:
In the guid-beuk ye read O' Him wha had rarely a biel owre his head.Abd. 1880 J. Skelton Crookit Meg xiv.:
In spite of the Gude Book and a bit sang at times the house feels lonely.Abd. 1922 G. P. Dunbar Doric 13:
An' at the gweed byeuk ilky nicht a hale roon 'oor I'll spen'.wm.Sc. 1955 Bulletin (17 May):
The Good Book becomes a Best Seller — Bible sales are breaking all records.(10) Abd.¹ 1930:
Meggie is gweed breids wi' the maister, her bein' sae gleg i' the uptak.(11) (a) Bnff. 1717 in J. F. S. Gordon Chrons. Keith (1880) 90:
The common report was, that the sd. Alexr. had got good deed from J — to hold his peace.(b) Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 10:
I ax your pardin mem, says Jock; bit giddeed I toucht ye wad no' be eeble tae come oot yoursel'.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
“Will thoo dø that?” “Guideed will I.”Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 132:
Dere waas nane o' your rapers or binders or horse rakes dan, na giddeed, nor a scy aither.(14) (a) Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Sh. 446:
The Dwarfs of Shetland, then, who dwell among the hills, are to be considered as the same malevolent beings who are to be found in the Scandinavian Edda; and as it is deemed dangerous to offend them by any terms of obloquy, however well merited, they are also named the “guid folk.”Abd. 1894 Trans. Bch. Field Club III. 149:
A day of alternate rain and sunshine is called: — “The gueede folk's or the fairies' bakin day.” The rain furnishes the rain to make the leaven, and the sun “fires” the bread.Sh. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 62:
He . . . tocht he saw da göidfiks sittan a watter, suppin horse dirt ato' silver ladles.Sh. (Fair Isle) 1931 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 340:
The “gude fiks,” or good folks, are said to have their home on the land, and make their habitations in the caves and crannies of the frowning cliffs that girt the isle. They resemble the fairies of the south in appearance and the powers attributed to them, and act as guardians to children and protect from evil spirits and the spells of witches all honest folk who invoke their aid.(b) Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 78:
A fylie, an the guidfowk o Martullich blew on their neives an trampit their brogues, an chittered in their plaidies, an ruggit their bunnets doon ticht aroon their lugs, till Iain Dubh McHardy, their chief, proponed they sud aa treetle inbye the fiddler's hoose, far Will Anderson keepit a still.Sc. 2000 Herald 6 Apr 19:
Portrayed in the past as a gay liberator who even forgives the use of waccy-baccy, he has gone and upset the guid folk of Craigmillar in Edinburgh.(19) Edb. 1839 W. McDowall Poems 14:
Who gave them food, and calmed their souls with prayer; 'Twas the good man, the lisping infant cries.Lnk. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 135:
Nae doot it was the Good Man wha made the flowerets wee.Rnf. 1947 J. F. Hendry Fernie Brae i. iii.:
Pale, delicate, bob-haired Peggy Robertson, . . . when she had died, had, his mother explained, “gone to the Gude Man.”(20) Per. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XIX. 542, Note:
On examining the cow-doctor, he said he had often seen elveshot cows, some of which he had cured. . . . That he had frequently picked up those arrows, which were smooth triangular small pointed stones or pebbles, like flints; and it was his belief, that those who do the mischief are our goodly neighbours.Sc. 1809 Byron Eng. Bards and Sc. Reviewers 31, Note:
The “Brownies” and “gude neighbours” (spirits of a good disposition).Peb. 1817 R. Brown Carlop Green 176:
Tabitha wi' her tabby cats, . . . For a guid-neighbour ta'en because She's wiser than the lave.Sc. 1830 Scott Demonology 123:
The Irish, the Welsh, the Gael or Scottish Highlander, all tribes of Celtic descent, assigned to the Men of Peace, Good Neighbours, or by whatever other names they called these sylvan pigmies, more social habits, and a course of existence far more gay, than the sullen and heavy toils of the more saturnine Duergar.Ayr. 1847 Ballads and Songs (Paterson) 109, Note:
If ye ca's guid neighbours, guid neighbours we will be; But if ye ca's fairies, we'll fare you o'er the sea.Sc. 1850 J. Grant Sc. Cavalier xiv.:
The gude neighbours span on't the haill night, and ravelled a' my gude hawslock woo.Abd. 1877 W. Alexander Rural Life xxiv.:
When Adam Donald's mother gave birth to a fine boy the “gweed neibours” whipt the child away to Elfland.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 142:
Are ye a goodly-neighbour stark Far-famed langsyne for squodgie wark?(22) Sc. 1854 H. Miller Schools vi.:
Walter believed in the fairies; and, though psalmody was not one of the reputed accomplishments of the “good people” in the low country, he did not know but that in the Highlands the case might be different.(24) Bnff. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 65:
I kist my lass, bade them Gude-rest. Sc. c.1830 Unquiet Grave in Child Ballads No. 77 G. i.:
Drap a tear upon my grave. An wiss my saul gude rest.(27) Ayr. 1790 J. Fisher Poems 80:
This is gude Fursday's night, Strange things to us ye tell, Janet, this night.(28) Edb. 1720 in J. Colston Guildry Edb. (1887) 123:
To Baillie John Duncan, he having long and faithfully served the Good Town in a great variety of offices.Sc. 1721 R. Wodrow Sufferings I. 247:
They still entertained some Hopes from their Friends in the good Town; and so resolve to march to Collingtoun, within Three Miles of it.Sc. 1799 T. Smith Address to Town Council Edb. 60:
There be no Election Dinner at the Expence of the City, which will save the Good Town at least 100 l. to 150 l. Sterling.Sc. 1817 Scott Bonnie Dundee ii. in Doom of Devorgoil (1834) ii. ii.:
But the Provost, douce man, said, “Just e'en let him be, The Gude Town is weel quit of that Deil of Dundee.”Sc. 1953 Scotsman (24 June) 7:
Welcoming Your Majesty to the capital of your ancient and hereditary Kingdom of Scotland, and of offering, for Your Majesty's gracious acceptance, the Keys of Your Majesty's good town of Edinburgh.(29) Ags. 1860 A. Whamond James Tacket xxii.:
Sair, sair, did I greet, when I heard him mutterin' gude words in his sleep.Abd. 1868 J. Riddell Aberdeen & its Folk 3:
She was very particular in regard to the saying of our “gweed words,” especially at night.Lnk. 1892 W. Ewing Poems 19:
Mind o' the guid words You've a' got to say.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. v.:
“Say yer good words.” “Father chart in heaven, hollered be Thy name.”Abd. 1903 W. Watson Auld Lang Syne 53:
I remember being taken to one of his catechisings in the district to say my “gweed words,” which consisted of the Lord's Prayer, my mither's Psalm (the 23rd) and my father's Paraphrase (the 2nd).Abd. 1953 Buchan Observer (2 June):
The nicht, fan wir gweed wirds is said Tae Him 'at dwalls abeen.(30) Sc. 1983 Howard Purdie in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 59:
He is an expert craftsman, a 'play-wright' worthy of the title, and his knowledge and command of the guid Scots tongue is second to none.Sc. 1995 Sunday Times 28 May 74:
I'm sorry the pukka Home Counties set don't appreciate a guid Scots tongue. In truth, I'm not overboard about their bools-in-the-mooth accent.Sc. 1996 Sunday Times 9 Jun :
And a guid Scots tongue doesn't just sell sex. The nuclear industry chose the actor Brian Cox to voice-over its television commercial promoting the sale of British Energy.Sc. 1999 Daily Record 16 Jan 37:
Hailing from Edinburgh, Gail has a guid Scots tongue in her head and won't be afraid to probe into the personal lives of those she meets on the sofa.Sc. 1999 Scotsman 22 May 13:
Mind you, folk have been forecasting the guid Scots tongue's imminent demise for an alarming number centuries now, from the Rev Hugh Blair in 1783 lamenting that "the old rustic dialect of Scotland in a short time will probably be entirely obsolete", to Robert Louis Stevenson, a formidable deployer of eloquently robust Scots in some of his fiction, a century later.Sc. 2002 Scotsman 3 Sep 12:
Ross should have stuck to the guid Scots tongue. Our dictionary definition of prat is "a fool, ineffectual person (origins 16th century: the buttocks)".
You see? Finnie could have called him an "erse" and left it at that.Sc. 2004 Press and Journal 17 Jun 16:
The place to be is Ballater public library, where retired primary teacher Mary Munro will sign copies of her Deeside Reeps, a miscellany of tales in the guid Scots tongue.(31) Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1898) xviii.:
I tell't Maister Wiggie, . . . that I could almost become guid for your being mair wary of your conduct for the future time to come.Sc. 1892 W. Ramage Last Words 322:
Having come good for the transgressor the surety could be spared no part of the punishment.(32) Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. i. ii.:
He's get his Will: Why not? 'tis good my Part To give him that; and he'll give me his Heart.n.Sc. 1840 D. Sage Mem. Domestica (1889) 188:
It's guid my pairt to tak' care o' that buik [Bible], for it has aye keepit me richt in the warld until noo.(34) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
It is said of one, who, in reasoning or scolding, makes a sharp retort; “He gae as gude as he got;” or, “He gae as gude again,” i.e. in return.

II. adv. 1. Used to qualify an adj. with intensive force = very, pretty (m.Lth. 1955). Also so used in 17th c. Eng.Edb. 1842 Children in Mines Report II. 454:
The work is guid sair at times.Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 72:
I'm very gude sure there was naebody suspected us up to yestreen.

2. = Well, in comb. and phr.: (1) gude-gaun, in good working order, active, lively, flourishing. Gen.Sc. Cf. Gae, v., B. III. 3.; (2) had as gude no, = Eng. had better not.(1) Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.T.Misc. 7:
I have three owsen in a plough, Twa good ga'n yads, and gear enough.Rnf. 1819 Edb. Ev. Courant (29 March) 1:
This [copperas] work, which is in a good going state, is situated at Hurlet.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 12:
He had aye aboot a dizzen guid-gaun pleas wi' his neebors.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) viii.:
There was as keen competition for him amon' the lassies as gin he'd been a gude-gaen public-hoose puttin' up for unction.Kcb. 1897 Crockett Lads' Love i.:
Ye flatter and flairdie them a while — a' the women folk like a guid-gaun tongue.Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems and Sk. 223:
He has a bit guid-gaun business, wi' twa or three men working tae him, an' an apprentice or twa.Dmf. 1910 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo 99:
“Has Mistress Doo a piano?” “No'” says I, “but she's got a fell guid-gaun mangle.”Abd. 1913 D. Scott Hum. Sc. Stories 10:
Noo, gin there wis a guid-gaun organ in the kirk, ae richt binner o' 'er wid be a' 'it wis wintit.Sc. 1920 D. Rorie Auld Doctor 8:
When he cast his buits an' soopled his cuits Wi' a gude-gaun Gillie Callum!Bwk.² 1954:
People like an easy-going tune in public worship. They say in Berwickshire: “Gie's a guid-gaun yin the nicht.”(2) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
To one who is about to do what another disapproves, it is commonly said; “Ye had as gude no.” This is much the same with the Eng. phrase, “Ye had as well not,” but it appears more emphatical to a Scottish ear.

III. n.

Sc. form of Eng. good. wm.Sc. 1954 Robin Jenkins The Thistle and the Grail (1994) 139:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Rutherford," he whined. "You ken me, too big a joker for my ain guid. It slipped oot. My wife says I'll joke at my ain funeral."em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 110:
'Oh,' said Carlin. 'Well, supposin I don't finish. For guid. Supposin ye like me so much ye keep me on. Ye're never gaun tae pay me whit's mine then, are ye?'

Sc. usages:

1. With def. art. (1) = good persons, as in Eng. Phr. the unco guid, those who are self-righteously moral or pious. Gen.Sc.; (2) as in Eng. profit, benefit, advantage; the essential virtue or durability of an article. Gen.Sc. phrs. as in quots.; (3) goodwill, kindness; a kind action. (1) Ayr. 1787 Burns Poems Title:
Address to the Unco Guid or the Rigidly Righteous.Rnf. 1861 J. Barr Poems 206:
The “unco guid,” with sturdy wrath, Hae sworn to banish drinkin'.Bwk. 1927 R. S. Gibb Farmer's 50 Years 192:
The censorship on the occasional exceeder was never very strict anywhere, outside the “unco-guid.”Sc. 1951 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 36:
It did a roaring trade on summer Sundays much to the vexation of the unco-guid who petitioned for its suspension.(2) Sc. 1975:
Spend your siller noo and get or tak the guid o't. It'll be nae uise tae you when ye're deid. Tak aff your coat. Ye'll ken the guid o't when ye pit it on again tae gang out this cauld nicht. This slush fairly taks the guid o' your shune.(3) m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 263:
I cam oot o' guid; but it'll be a wee or my shadday blackens yer door again. Abd. 1930:
He did monie a gweed tae monie's the peer cratur.

†2. Live stock, gen. referring to cattle. Also in n.Eng. dial.Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 62:
Rabina Muir . . . drove the flocks of goods doun the syck and meadow ground . . . and some of the goods runing through the informers soweing corn . . . he turned back the goods.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 183:
But as it is, I maun mysell content, To help to herd the gueeds upo' the bent.

3. Respectable character, in phr. †a woman of good; cf. O.Sc. man of good, a man of rank and standing.Sc. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xx.:
Magdalen . . . entered the court, . . . followed and supported by six women of good, (that is, of respectability) dressed in the same melancholy attire.

4. Phrs. & Combs.: (1) common good, see Common; (2) gudes and gear, moveable property, personal belongings, esp. as a Sc. law term in wills. Gen.Sc. Hence phr. †neither gear nor guede, neither one thing nor another (Abd. 1825 Jam.); (3) goods in communion, in Sc. law: the moveable property of a husband and wife, regarded by the institutional writers as belonging in common (see also Communio bonorum, id., Jus mariti). This doctrine is denied by later authorities (see Fraser Husband and Wife (1876) I. ii. ix.). Any such right was abolished by the Married Women's Property Act of 1881; (4) to dae guid, to get good results, to thrive, to prosper (Sh., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., wm.Sc. 1955); (5) to hae guid on one, in one's mind, to be disposed to generosity, freq. framed as a question by someone asking a favour or soliciting money (Gsw. 1924; m.Sc. 1955); (6) to make a good of (something), to make a “good job,” a success of (something) (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 121); (7) tocher geud, see Tocher.(2) Sc. 1709 Compend of Securities 204:
A Silver Spoon, and a Peuther Trencher, as Symbols of the haill Houshold-plenishing, and Goods and Gear within contained.Sc. 1752 J. Spottiswoode Stile of Writs 351:
My whole Means and Estate, Lands, Goods and Gear, moveable and immoveable, whatsomever.Peb. 1793 R. Brown Carlop Green (1817) 138:
And tak' their fathers' guids, and gear, And leave them nought ava'!Bwk. 1879 in Minstrelsy Merse (Crockett 1893) 202:
He wha has routh o' gudes an' gear, Aye hauds the causey's croon.(3) Sc. 1754 Erskine Principles i. vi. § 7:
The husband, as the head of the wife, has the sole right of managing the goods in communion.(4) ne.Sc. 1874 W. Gregor Olden Time 46:
A houp he may be spairt t' dee guid. [Spoken of a boy who has just won a bursary.]Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 16:
“Geordie Paip, they say, never did nae gweed upon 't.” “Haud yer tongue! Forbyse to dee gweed, he cudna deen muckle waur.”Kcb. 1897 66th Report Brit. Ass. 464–5:
“He did nae guid aifter,” i.e., he fell into weak health. Nae boddie widd doe ony guid that knockit doon a moutart mill.(5) Gsw. 1930 per Fif.¹:
A prostitute will say in soliciting a man, “Hae ye ony gude on ye?”Arg. 1936 L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 19:
A term used by cadgers. “Is there any good in yer mind the day, sir? . . . Wull ye no' gie us the price o' a dram?”

5. (1) Used as a substitute for God; sometimes with the def. art. Gen.Sc.Ayr. 1786 Burns To J. Lapraik xvii.:
I like the lasses — Gude forgie me!s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 340:
The Guid watch owr us, sirs!Ayr. 1809 W. Craw Poet. Epistles 56:
As in guid's house I went fu' douce, Just in a seat I enter'd; The pew to me was ever free.Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems 78:
A besom ne'er had mov'd the stoure In gude's creation.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb x.:
Readin' namie chapters oot o' the Word o' Gweed.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 3:
De side 'at Geud was on, was seur tae win i' the end.Cai. 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 6:
We canna be far aff 'e aist side o' Strowma, we' Geed's help we man try and mak' for 'ere fill we see.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 114:
Dat's a dweelin ta tank Gjöd, an' pay rent for.wm.Sc. 1946 H. Reid Big Adventure 5:
Here lies a Rid, who feared The Gude, But feared not the face o' man.

Freq. in exclam. and other phrs., as guid guide (keep, kens, †saff, †safe, †sain, sake(s)), (the) guid be here, etc.; †guid it well [Guid wot well] (Bnff. 1847 A. Cumming Tales 82); †gude sang (Ib. 38), see Sang; †good Saul [Guid's saul] (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 157); a guid's blessin', a mercy (Dmf. 1915 J. L. Waugh Betty Grier iii.; Abd. 1955).Ayr. 1795 Burns Last May viii.:
He begged, for gudesake, I wad be his wife.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary i.:
Gude guide us — saw ever ony body the like o' that!Bch. 1930 Abd. Univ. Mag. (March) 109:
Gweed keep's! My laddie 'ill be droun't.m.Sc. 1991 Tony McManus in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 152:
Gin I gang aboot or I bide at hame
Guid kens whit they say o me aa the same.

(2) In combs. (sometimes with the possessive) and derivs.: (a) Gud left, adj., God-forsaken, godless (Sh. 1955); (b) gudeless, adj. and adv., damnable, -ly, devilish(ly) (Sh. 1955); (c) gudely, adj., godly, pious, religious (ne.Sc. gweedly, Ags. 1955); (d) gud(e)liheid, n., goodliness, sanctity, honour. Arch.; (e) guidsend, (i) = Eng. godsend (Abd. 1909 J. T. Jeannie Jaffray 235, gweedsend); (ii) a wreck driven ashore (Sh. 1955). Also in Eng. and s.Ir. dial. See also God('s)-send s.v. God; (f) Geud's ert, a churchyard (Ork. 1889 Ellis E.E.P. V. 803). Cf. Eng. God's acre; (g) Guid's fuil, = (i) (Sh. 1955); (h) Guid's mak, a deformed person (Sh. 1913); (i) Gude's pör, see quot.; (j) guid(s)weather, a tabu term for thunder (Ork. 1889 Ellis E.E.P. V. 803, geudwather, 1929 Marw., Ork. 1955, guids-).(a) Sc. 1897 Shet. News (17 July):
Dey wid shurely be nane sae Gud left as deny dat.(b) Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 154:
Dis Govermint cheese is no sae bad, bit it's guidless dear.Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 21. 9:
A most gudeless roar o' applause at narly lifted da rüff aff.(c) Abd. 1820 A. Skene Poems 39:
I spen' my time 'mong holy fouks, Wi' cateches an' gueedly beuks.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 129:
For some's amang them, honest, guidly men, Wha keep aloof frae the vile canting byke.Bch. 1861 J. Davidson Poems 99:
The folk are noo sae holy grown, An' a' sae fond o' keepin' Sunday — An' bein' gweedly, e'en on Monday.Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. 117:
Gudely Maister Andrews wadna hae dune that.Abd.⁴ 1929:
Ye're as greedy's ye're gweedly.(d) Sc.(E) 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms vii. 5:
Baith fang an' fling my life till the yird, an' my gudeliheid straik i' the stoure.Ags. 1894 A. Reid Heatherland 23:
Still owre its aisles a glamour fa's — The gudeliheid o' Abbey wa's.(e) (ii) Dmf. 1822 A. Cunningham Tales II. 125:
It will aiblens be long afore such a gudesend comes to our coast again.(i) Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 110:
It was considered a good omen to meet an imbecile or a person deformed from the birth. These were called “Gude's pör,” and were suitable aamas bairns.

IV. v. To make (land) good by dunging, to manure. Gen. found as vbl.n. = manure (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., gudden, 1914 Angus Gl., güden; Cai.¹ c.1920, geedin; ‡Sh., †Ork., †Ags. 1955).Sh. 1701 J. Brand Descr. Zetland 66:
The gooding of their Land, which is ordinarly by Sea-ware.Abd. 1711 in Stat. Acc.² XII. 1124, Note:
It was ordained that none should let the third year pass “ungooding the third of their barlands yearly.”Ags. 1728 Arbroath T. C. Minutes MS. (6 Sept.):
The said James Whytlaw shall Duell and Reside upon the said Toun and Land of Wardmills and shall sufficiently Good, sou, labour and manure the same.Bch. 1735 J. Arbuthnot Farmers (1811) 61:
House gooding, by which is meant the excrements of horses, nolt and other domestic animals.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems & Songs 216:
No more to them they will return, They're gooding to our land.Kcd. 1813 G. Robertson Agric. Kcd. 226:
It was only the eighteenth crop in succession since it got gudeing.Sc. 1814 J. Sinclair Agric. Scot. II. 64:
This ridge the cottager undertakes to gude or dung completely.Sc. 1829 G. Robertson Recollections 86:
The barley was thus at last denuded of all the gooden.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Modern artificial manures are rarely, if ever, termed guidin; dung is guidin par excellence.

Hence guddian, n., “a gutter draining a manure heap” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).