Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡NA, conj. Also ne.

1. Than (ne.Sc., Ags., Clc. 1963). Used after a comparative. Cf. Nor, 1.Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Ajax 16:
He flegged starker fouk na' you.Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 64:
They toolzy'd mair na tongue can tell.Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 34:
A' thing gade righter na common.Ayr. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 183:
[She] saw mae ferlies na fyfteen.Ags. 1899 Barrie W. in Thrums ii.:
The big ane's bigger na usual.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick v.:
There 'e sat an' suppit an' suppit an' better na suppit.

2. In imprecatory phrs. deil na, may, devil tak . . . if; na micht, may . . . not. Cf. Nor, conj., 3.Ayr. 1786 Burns Earnest Cry xvii.:
Deil na they never mair do guid, Play'd her that pliskie!Ork. 1884 R. M. Fergusson Rambles 162:
Na micht I trive, Maigie; but I see a braw new hoos.