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 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STAR, n.¹ Also staur (Lnk. 1929 Hamilton Advert. (23 March)); ster (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); stor (Sh. 1906 T. P. Ollason Spindrift 114–5); staar. For other Sc. usages see Starn, n¹. [stɑr; s.Sc. stær]

Sc. forms of Eng. star.Sc. 1979 T. S. Law in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 81:
... or the staurs can skinkle in time wi the singin o the wuins ... Sh. 1991 William J. Tait in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 45:
Whaar my niest stramp mycht faa, what rod
My wilt stravaigin fit mycht tak,
A feddir in a mirkabrod;
Whin every waa at croes me in
Rins tae hits aishins i da staarsLnk. 1997 Duncan Glen Seventeen Poems 9:
The staurs are bricht in a daurk black sky
and the mune castin lang hidin shadows.

Sc. usages in combs. and phr.: ¶(1) star-glint, a shooting-star, meteor; (2) star-sheen, star light. Cf. obs. or liter. Eng. star shine, id.; (3) star-shot, = (1). See also Starn, n.¹; (4) the star (ster) o' the ee, the pupil of the eye (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., Ags., Wgt., Rxb. 1971).(1) Per. a.1825 Donald and Flora (Jam.) 188:
The star-glint shoots.(2) Dmf. 1878 R. W. Thom Jock o' the Knowe 52:
Now star-sheen, an' now blaze o' day.(3) Ork. 1773 P. Ork. A.S. (1924) II. 50:
Those the Country people call starshots, which every night (according to the weather) are seen sparkling thro' the sky.