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 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ILL-AFF, adj. Also ull-aff (Abd.).

1. = Eng. ill-off, poor, in impoverished or straitened circumstances (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1820 Scott Letters (Cent. ed.) VI. 122:
Not only the actually indigent, but those who are, in our phrase, ill aff.ne.Sc. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 38:
Dr Lott would attend ony ill-aff creatur' that “other doctors” wudna attend.Abd. 1993:
E retired banker's nae ill-aff.

2. Miserable, ill-used (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 87). Gen.(exc. sm.)Sc. Phr. ill-aff wi anesel, unwell (Ags.¹⁹ 1958).Sc. 1741 A. Carlyle Autobiog. (1916) 65:
According to the proverb, he that got a haddock for a whiting was not ill-off.Abd. 1895 G. Williams Scarbraes 58:
He thought himself “rael ill aff.” “It's geyan langsome,” he said “being yer lee fu' lane a' day an' nicht, wi' only a collie dog to speak to.”

3. Perplexed, at a loss (Cld. 1825 Jam.); in a quandary for want of (something) (Sh., Bnff., Abd., Ags., m.Lth., Ayr., Gall., Uls. 1958).Sc. 1818 T. Carlyle Early Letters (Norton) I. 203:
The poor people of Kirkcaldy are ill off, I hear, for a dominie.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet ix.:
Saunders was hurt . . . at this pointed allusion . . . to his condition as a “seekin'” widower. “Wha seeks you, Jess, 'ill be sair ill-aff!”m.Sc. 1922 O. Douglas Ann and her Mother i.:
Your father was sometimes ill-off knowing what to talk about.Arg.³ 1950:
He was ill off for a job when he went oot o' his wey tae clype on me.