Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1785-1832, 1897, 1987
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‡SAB, v.1, n.1 Also ¶saib (Abd. 1827 J. Imlah May Flowers 121). Sc. form and usage of Eng. sob, to weep, noise of weeping (Sc. 1769 D. Herd Sc. Songs 338, 1825 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson m.Sc. 1969). See P.L.D. §54.
I. v. 1. To exude moisture, drip, ooze, in Burns quot. of nuts roasting.Ayr. 1785 Burns Halloween x.:
In loving bleeze they sweetly join, Till white in ase they're sobbin.Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Proverbs 74:
Birk will burn, be it burn drawn; Sauch will sab, if it were simmer sawn.
2. Of the wind, to gust audibly.Abd. 1987 Donald Gordon The Low Road Hame 35:
'Fit seek ye here on the cauld hillside,
Traivellin sae late at e'en,
Fan the owlet hoots tae the sabbin win
I' the licht o a weary mune!
II. n. The noise made by a gust of wind or by the rise and fall of the sea; a full sea occurring on the east coast in May (Kcd. 1921 T.S.D.C., sob). See also Mey, 1. (14).Slk. 1820 Hogg Shep. Cal. (1874) vii.:
Puffing o' love vows, and sabs o' wind.Lnk. 1897 J. Wright Scenes Sc. Life 74:
They seem aye to list To the sab o' the sea.
