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

ONCE, adv. Also oncet (Lnk. 1923 G. Blake Mince Collop Close 109), wunst (Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xii.). For Sc. form see Aince. Adv. phrs. (1) once errand (Uls. 1953 Traynor), also in the form one end's ( < on aince) —, = Aince Errand, q.v., for the sole purpose; (2) the once, Once. (1)Sc. 1700 R. Wodrow Early Letters (S.H.S.) 93:
It wer worth your while to goe once errand.Sc. 1739 Atholl MSS.:
One of the Clerks in Exchequer who came once Errand from his Country house to give me the land tax act.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xxvi.:
I . . . went into the kitchen one end's errand.(2)wm.Sc. 1998 Alan Warner The Sopranos (1999) 172:
Kay kept laughing. You look funny, she hiccuped the once.
There you are, the barmaid had arrived, shuttling little glasses offof the tray into two wee rows of three.Edb. 2005:
Ah juist went oot wi him the once.