Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
TAE, prep., adv., conj. Also unstressed forms as prep. and conj. t' (Uls. 1910 C. C. Russell People and Lang. 52; Abd. 1930 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 106), ta (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Fif. 1870 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 104; Peb. 1884 J. Grosart Poems 22; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), tay, te (Sc. 1707 Seafield Corresp. (S.H.S.) 437; Dmf. 1810 R. H. Cromek Remains 188; Uls. 1953 Traynor), teh (Rxb. 1912 Jedburgh Gazette (18 July) 3), ti (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); tee (Cai. 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 3), reduced form 'e (Cai. 1891 D. Stephen Gleanings 30); and, emphatic, in adv. use only, teu (Ork. 1905 Dennison Ork. Weddings 31), toie (Sh. 1832 Old-Lore Misc. VII. iv. 152), tu (Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xviii.), tü (Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen Wi' da Trow 246), tö; tee (Abd. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1972). Tae, tee, also represent a coalesced form with the def. art. tae (th)e (cf. Ee, 'e) (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 308–9; Cai. 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 4; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 111; ne.Sc., Ags. 1972). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. to. See P.L.D. §§ 35, 128. [prep. tɪ, unstressed t(ə); adv. te:, tø, sm.Sc. ty; ne.Sc. ti:]
I. prep. 1. As a sign of the inf. in contexts where Eng. would now omit it or use the gerund with a different prep. or an abstract n. Phrs. †to look to, to see (him, etc.), by sight (I., ne., wm.Sc. 1972).Sc. 1707 Seafield Corresp. (S.H.S.) 437:
I am litell capabell to give advies.Fif. 1712 E. Henderson Dunfermline (1879) 391:
Hindering of the Chapmen to set up their stands.Ayr. 1734 Ayr Presb. Reg. MS. (29 May):
The kirk of Kirkoswald was in hazard a good part of it to fall.Inv. 1742 Trans. Gael. Soc. Inv. XI. 344:
I don't think you can miss to find some lad that will be fit for my purpose.Mry. 1757 Session Papers, Cramond v. Allan (11 Jan.) 3:
She saw Mrs Allan on these occasions incapable to walk.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 30:
I mind to hear of Flaviana's Braes.Bwk. 1779 Session Papers, Petition P. Forrest (20 June 1781) App. 12:
What have you to do to sign that paper?[= What business is it of yours to sign?]Rnf. 1820 Trials for High Treason (1825) III. 209:
I only knew him to look to.Abd. 1965:
I kent him tae see him though I never spak til him. But omitted in some constructions where Eng. retains to.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. v. ii.:
He has mair sense than slight auld friends.Abd. 1972:
He kens better than say that tae me.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 4:
My son kens Tartuffe is worth his saut!
He'd raither you were in God's Good Grace
Than daunerin' doon your ain paths tae the Other Place.m.Sc. 1987 Andrew Cowan in Iain Crichton Smith Scottish Short Stories 1987 102:
'They're all away on free holidays tae the Costa del Sol. It's his aine fault. He's a mug. Always wis.'Dundee 1990 Sheila Stephen in Joy Hendry Chapman 60 51:
"This is the interestin bit, Bella!" Ina rushed on, clearly enjoying herself. "A wummin drevvd up in een o thae Beetle cars and went 'toot', 'toot' on hir hoarin. Up loupit the mannie and went across ti her. ... "ne.Sc. 1996 Ian Middleton in Sandy Stronach New Wirds: An Anthology of Winning Poems and Stories from the Doric Writing Competitions of 1994 and 1995 40:
Nae modern-day machinery then ti ease the waichty birn, ...m.Sc. 1997 Liz Niven Past Presents 11:
Seein the saft white wool
She'd pickt up the needles
An stertit tae knit
Tae clothe her bairn
Till the mither cried "stop".
2. As a means of emphasis after tell.Arg.2 1931:
I'm tellin tae ye thon's the place for them. She wuz at the wadden in aa her braas, I'm tellin tae ye noo.
3. Used with ellipsis of v. of motion. Gen.Sc. Cf. also Til.Bnff. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 143:
He up an' to the dancin'.Rs. 1814 E. Bond Letters II. 194:
Will was to his bed.Abd. 1837 J. Leslie Willie & Meggie 60:
Arena ye tae yir bed, Meggie?m.Lth. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller 127:
Ken ye whaur they're to, my dear?Abd. 1929 J. Milne Dreams o Buchan 8:
The aul'er folk are tae the road, ye hear the gweedwife speakin'.Uls.
1953
Traynor:
Both of the bulls to it, and commenced to fight.
4. As an accusation against, to the detriment of (Abd. 1972). Phr. to have no fault to, to find no fault with or against (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 32). See Faut, 4.Mry. 1756 Session Papers, Cramond v. Allan (17 Dec.) 16:
She never heard anything to serjeant Mill's character.Abd. 1780 Aberdeen Jnl. (14 Aug.):
I know nothing to you but an honest Man.Abd. 1837 J. Leslie Willie & Meggie 25:
I never saw a vrang thing tae ane o' them.Sh. 1881 Williamson MSS.:
There was nothing to be said to him.
5. In regard to food or its constituent ingredients, with, for, to the accompaniment of, in, as a relish to. Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial. Also fig.Per. 1813 J. Sinclair Simple Lays 18:
To kittle up the string To reamin' nappy.Sc. 1865 A. Smith Summer in Skye I. 167:
There is abundance of fish to breakfast.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 17:
Will you have milk to your tea?Sc. 1896 R. Masson Eng. Composition 38:
Meat to breakfast, sugar to tea, jam to bread.Ags. 1929 Scots Mag. (March) 406:
He wants you to bile him an egg to his tea.Dmb. 1932 A. J. Cronin Three Loves 310:
A slice of bread and butter to her cup of tea.Uls.
1953
Traynor:
A glass of stout to his dinner. Butter to butter's no kitchen.
6. In various idioms and collocations where Eng. uses a different prep. or expression: (1) = at, with verbs of looking, beholding (I., n.Sc. 1972). See also Leuk, See, etc.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 43:
Look to her now, a' sae black round the mou'.Sc. 1849 J. G. A. Baird Dalhousie Letters (1910) 50:
See to Gairdner, ye've set him crying.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 17:
Look to that picture.
(2) = by, as in phrs. (i) to †business, †employment, trade, by trade or profession. Gen.Sc.; (ii) to your leave, by your leave (Rs.1 1929); (iii) with regard to paternity: with a specified person as the father (Sc. 1752 D. Hume Scotticisms s.v.). Gen.Sc.(i) Sc. 1715 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 69:
A souple Taylor to his Trade.Sc. 1722 R. Wodrow Sufferings iv. ix. s.6:
He was a Carrier to his Employment.Sc. 1755 Session Papers, Hunter v. Aitken (24 Dec.) 16:
The Witness is a Sailor to his Profession.Sc. 1765 Caled. Mercury (6 Nov.) 531:
A labourer to his business.Sc. 1811 Edb. Annual Reg. lxxiv.:
A weaver to trade.Ags. 1891 Barrie Little Minister vi.:
I micht be a tinsmith to trade.Abd. 1953 Abd. Press and Jnl. (9 Oct.):
A boilermaker to trade.Gsw. 1985 Anna Blair Tea at Miss Cranston's 36:
Another who started to his trade before that war was Duncan White.(iii) Rxb. 1700 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1909) 27:
She had brought forth a daughter to him.Wgt. 1732 Session Bk. Wigtown (1934) 437:
The child was to him.Abd. 1765 Abd. Journal (25 Feb.):
Elizabeth Smith is big with child to Webster.Fif. 1857 W. Blair Rambling Recoll. 34:
She had a little body to a ploughman.Lnk. 1920 G. A. H. Douglas Further Adventures Rab Hewison 75:
That ne'er-dae-weel Swaney Potter, wha she had the bairn tae?Uls.
1953
Traynor 308:
She had a child to a cousin of her own.Edb. 2004:
She had a bairn tae the postie. Uls. 2005:
She had two weans to her first husband and one to her second.
(3) = compared with. Gen.Sc. Obsol. or dial. in Eng.Sc. 1860 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. 121:
There's nae fule to an auld fule.Abd. 1872 J. G. Michie Deeside Tales 57:
Ye're naething but ablachs to the pretty men that were in my young days.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken xxii.:
I'm but a puir man to you.e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head 59:
“Puck” himsel's a gowk to me.
(4) = for: (i) on behalf of, for the good or use of, in the service of. Gen.Sc.Kcb. 1703 W. Mackenzie Hist. Gall. I. App. 44:
Jean M'Murrie sought a piece bread to a lass that she had with her.Rxb. 1727 Melrose Parish Reg. (S.R.S.) 139:
Craving that the session would take an house to him for the ensuing year.Sc. 1773 Boswell Tour (31 Aug.):
We had tea in the afternoon, and our landlord's daughter made it to us.Sc. 1811 Edb. Annual Reg. lxxiv.:
A young man who writes to Mr. H., W.S. — Writes for, or is employed to write by Mr. H.Slk. 1831 Hogg Tales (1874) 194:
How would it do to rack his neck to him?Sc. 1855 Scotticisms Corrected 13:
He bought a horse to his brother.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb iii.:
I'se rug yer lugs t'ye.Mry. 1908 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 16:
Mak' brose tae ye a' the morn.Gsw. 1934 D. Allan Hunger March i. v.:
He'd maybe take a thought to them that was under.Dmb. 1948 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 123:
Sometimes when Davy was hungry Yon Yin would say: “Here's tae ye,” and down at Davy's feet lay some plover's eggs.Uls. 1953 Traynor Gl. 308:
He worked to Mr. G. in Scotland.Per. 1979 Betsy Whyte The Yellow on the Broom 45:
Although Father and his brothers worked, I doubt very much if they would have worked to a boss for very long, or even for a full six months at a time. Gsw. 1980 Alex Hamilton in Moira Burgess and Hamish Whyte Streets of Stone (1985) 41:
'... A motir hisnae goat leg zan feet a it sain thitit kin jiss get up n tay ka walk tae itself whinivir it feels lik a wee daunir doon thi toon! ...' Gsw. 1985 Anna Blair Tea at Miss Cranston's 86:
You didnae have toys or that bought to you. wm.Sc. 1994 Duncan and Linda Williamson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 130:
The old smith says, "Right!"
Go roond: an it wis a skillet the auld man hed, he said, "Cuid ye mend that tae me?"
(ii) as, as being, in the capacity or relationship of. Arch. or poet. in Eng.Fif. 1830 Perthshire Advert. (22 April):
She tasted it and knew it to rum.Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xxv.:
Proud of having had an outlaw to his father.Ayr. 1927 J. Carruthers A Man Beset i. ii.:
Ye've got a smaik to a son.
(iii) with easy (Sh., Abd., Ags. 1972).Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums xxii.:
It's aisy to you to speak like that.
(5) of: (i) concerning, about, with reference to.Slg. 1757 Session Papers, Wallace v. Morrison, State of Process (18 Nov.) 84:
He never saw any gate or any blank in the hedge, that he took notice to.Sc. 1812 W. Angus Eng. Grammar 336:
Have you any word to your brother?
(ii) expressing family relationship. Gen.Sc., somewhat obsol. Now obs. or arch. in Eng.Sc. 1729 W. Macfarlane Geneal. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 107:
Andrew Stuart Son to the Sheriff of Bute.Abd. 1795 A. Jervise Epitaphs (1879) II. 163:
Elizabeth Brown, spouse to the Rev. Geo. Brown, minister of Glenmuick.Kcd. 1932 L. G. Gibbon Sunset Song (1937) 312:
The story went round he was son to that old minister from Banff.Sc. 1943 J. Macleod Sc. Theology 302:
The last of these was first cousin to Dr Norman Macleod.
(6) towards, against, after words denoting hostility or opposition. Obs. in Eng.e.Lth. 1883 J. Martine Reminisc. 120:
The “Dyer”, an old Haddington character, had a mortal hatred to him [a goat].Sc. 1891 A. Bain Higher Eng. Grammar 84:
I entertain no prejudice to him.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xxiv.:
He had a triple wrath to his son.
(7) as an accompaniment to. Gsw. 1986 Alex Cathcart The Comeback 200:
An older lady with no white cuffs to her blouse joined them.Edb. 2004:
The straps oan her shuin flapped because she had nae buckles tae them.
(8) until. Edb. 2004:
Gie me tae the morn tae feenish it.
II. adv. 1. As an adv. of motion, implying direction towards, closeness, contact: (1) of a door, etc.: so as to shut or close, closed. Gen.Sc.m.Lth. 1701 Session Rec. Cramond MS. (18 July):
Being asked if ye doore was shut. . . . She answered it was putt to but he shutt it up.Kcb. 1723 Session Bk. Minnigaff (1939) 431:
[She] owns she put to the door; denyes that her husband wrestled to keep it open; owns that he said why did she put it to?Sc. 1808 Jam.:
The dore is to.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 142:
The door was slightly girded tee, Wi' an auld tow and conter-tree.wm.Sc. 1888 Anon. Archie Macnab 56:
Twa doors gaed tae wi' a bang.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 35:
Awa' he floo, takin' the door to ahent him.Sc. 1924 Sc. Recitations (Harley) 19:
She banged tae the door in my face.Abd. 1932 J. White Moss Road 12:
Clashing to the door of the press.
(2) close, on, together, in contact. In ne.Sc. freq. as the first element in the comb. prep. tee til, -tae.Dmb. 1777 Weekly Mag. (3 July) 20:
Fu' blithe the carle lean'd too his eldron back.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads II. 339:
The heart that's leal will aye lye tee.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 1:
He cries to Jock to gather ti' his duds.Bnff. 1844 T. Anderson Poems 34:
Didna twa three o's steal awa the Stane ae night frae Meg's door an' clap it tee to the door o' anither auld maid wha seemed tae be a stickin' penny-worth.Abd. 1925 A. Murison Rosehearty Rhymes 12:
Ye ken faur the graveyard joins tee tull a park.Abd. 1947 Trans. Bch. Club XVII. i. 16:
Nooadays, it's jist aff wi' the reef an' tee wi' the spunk.
(3) Phrs.: (i) to be or come tae, with regard to work, etc.: to be or keep up to schedule (Abd. 1972), freq. in phr. weel tee, up to time, well in hand (ne.Sc. 1972). See Huilie, I. 3.; (ii) to gang tae, of the sun: to set, go down (Sc. 1825 Jam.). See Gang, I. iii. A. 10; (iii) to keep tee, see Keep, I. B. 5. (15) and cf. (i).(i) Bnff. 1916 Banffshire Jnl. (17 Oct.) 3:
Fa wis weel tee wi' the wark, an' fa wis hin'e ahin.Abd. 1922 Weekly Free Press (21 Jan.) 3:
We took advantage o' th' wark bein' weel tee.Abd. 1955 Huntly Express (22 April):
Wi' th' time chang't an' th' extra 'oors pittin in b' th' tractors an' we'll be tee wi' th' wark.
2. As the first element in combs. with verbs and nouns, implying addition, attraction, attachment, motion towards: (1) tae-bread, to(o)-, tee-, an extra loaf, bun or biscuit given gratis by way of discount by a baker after the purchase of a certain amount (Sc. 1854 N. & Q. (Ser. 1.) X. 531; Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Slg., Ayr., Rxb. 1972); (2) to-brig, ta-, a bascule- or draw-bridge, esp. one over a canal or railway (Sc. 1887 Jam., Add.); (3) tae-come, (i) anything that accrues, an increment, specif. profit on resale; (ii) = (1) (Fif. 1921 T.S.D.C., Fif. 1972); (4) to-draucht, attraction, attractive force (Fif. c.1850 Peattie MS.); also a contrary motion of sea or wind (Sh. 1972); (5) to-draw, †a resort, refuge, “to which one can draw in danger or difficulty” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.); also = (11) (Sh. 1972); (6) tae-fa, to(o)-, tö-, tü-, tu-fa(a) (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.), tee- (ne.Sc.), to(o)-fall, two-, tofald, (i) a lean-to porch, shed or outhouse built against another building, a penthouse (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai., sm.Sc. 1905 E.D.D.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Ork., n.Sc., em.Sc.(a), Lnk., sm.Sc. 1972). Also in n.Eng. dial. Also attrib. and in comb. to-fall way, in the manner of a penthouse, leaning-to: (ii) an addition, accretion of any kind; an extra charge, burden or the like; a gift, gratuity, luckpenny (Abd. 1928); (iii) a prop, stay, support; (iv) esp. in phr. the to-fa o the day, — o the nicht, evening, dusk (Sc. 1808 Jam.); (7) to-flight, a refuge. Cf. (5); (8) to-gang, an encounter, meeting; access (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.); (9) to-gaun, a drubbing, beating; (10) tee-haudin, ppl.adj., ingratiating, currying favour, obsequious (‡Bnff., Abd. 1972). Cf. In-haud, II. 2.(3); (11) tö-haul, of sea, wind or cloud: to move contrary to the prevailing direction, presaging a change (Sh. 1972); (12) to-look, -luik, tee-leuk, (i) a look at, a glance of inspection; (ii) an outlook, prospect, matter of expectation, something to look forward to; (13) to-luck, something which is given extra to a bargain, a luckpenny (Sc. 1808 Jam.). See Luck, I. 1.(4); (14) to-name, tui-, tee-, a name added to or used instead of the surname or Christian name of a person, a nickname, an additional surname, gen. given to differentiate persons in a community where many people have the same surname (Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 199; Sh., Ork. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 204; ne.Sc. 1972). Also in ppl.adj. to-named, nicknamed; (15) to-put, tee-pit, n., an addition, esp. of an unnecessary or incongruous nature, “very often used to denote any fictitious addition to a true narrative” (Abd. 1825 Jam.); v., to add, apply, put to, now only in ppl.adj. teu-pitten, stressed, harassed, in difficulties (Ork. 1972); agent n. to-putter, one who sets others to work, a taskmaster; (16) teeset, -sit, the first of a fleet of fishing-lines to be shot from the boat, and so the last to be hauled in, the line immediately after the marker buoy (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 191; ne.Sc. 1972); the man who shoots the first line and to whom its catch is assigned, the privilege being taken in turn by each member of the crew (Id.). Also attrib. in teeset binnin, -bow (see Binnen, 2., Bow, n.5), -man. Cf. O.Sc. to-set, to affix, attach, sc. the part where the line is attached to the buoy-rope; (17) tü-tak, a person who is notorious for some eccentricity or impropriety of conduct, a butt for public disapproval or ridicule (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1972). Cf. Faer. til-tak, id.; (18) too-weight, a little extra amount of some commodity thrown in by way of discount. Cf. (1) and (3) (ii).(1) Dmb. 1868 J. Salmon Gowodean 104:
You were yourself the ‘to-bread' to the gift.(3) Fif. 1958:
A woman buying bread from a van in order to re-sell it in her wee shop grumbled at the price because she “needit her tae-come yet.”(6) (i) Sc. 1701 Records Cloth Manuf. (S.H.S.) 255:
To bigg ane toofall for the presshouse.Sc. 1715 Morison Decisions 14524:
He would not be bound to put up the to-fall chimnies at his expense.Sc. 1724 Treatise on Fallowing 49:
Some keeps them in Closses or Shades at the back of their Stables, with open Too-falds from the Wall of the Stable, wherein racks are placed for their Hay.Sc. 1745 R. Maxwell Bee-Master 85:
If you make the House Tofall Way.Per. 1820 Atholl MSS.:
The residence of Mr. Shorthouse, together with several other little two-falls.Abd. 1840 W. Bannerman Abd. Worthies 81:
An attachment or tee-fa' against one of the side walls.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 170:
The door was protected by a töfa, or porch.Ayr. 1899 Trans. Highl. Soc. XI. 57:
Lean-to or tae-fa' buildings in the form of boiler-houses, turnip-sheds, hayhouses, and suchlike.Ags. 1965 Scots Mag. (Aug.) 478:
He had twa or three looms gaein' in a tu-fa' at the back o' the hoose.(ii) Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 209:
He was a sort o' toofa' upon their kindness.Sc. 1831 Letters C. K. Sharpe (1888) II. 457:
How long that [House of Lords] will keep its senses after a fresh to-fall of fools, bastards, and rascals, who smell of the Old Bailey.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah 11:
A to-fa' till what gangs afore.(iii) Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms xviii. 2.:
The Lord my rock, my hain'in-towir, an' my to-fa'.(iv) w.Lth. 1725 W. Hamilton Poems (1760) 70:
But e'er the toofal of the night He lay a corps on the Braes of Yarrow.Ayr. 1795 Burns Election Ball. 3. ii.:
But O' I was a waefu' man, Ere to-fa' o' the night.Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) III. 268:
As I wander pensive at to-fall of the day.(7) Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms lxii. 8:
God, for oursels, is a to-flight.(9) Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
I'll gi'e you a gude to-gaun.(11) Sh. 1964 Nordern Lichts 55:
‘Yon's no a shooer,' da auld man answered me, ‘An he's no gyauin in ower da laund idder. He's tö-haulin.'(12) (i) Cai. 1905 E.D.D.:
Gie a tee-leuk till ma bairns till I come back.(ii) Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A puir tolook, an ill prospect as to the future.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xxxvii.:
This to-look that has led you into the debts ye want to pay.Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce III. iii.:
It might in a sense be thought a match aboon my degree; for Effie has a bein to-look.Ayr. 1836 Galt Rich Man (1925) 62:
The haws on the hedges, though as green as capers, were a to-look.(14) Sc. 1723 W. Buchanan Inquiry Ancient Sc. Surnames 31:
Brian Kennedy, to-named Boraimh, or Taxer.Sc. 1823 Scott Quentin Durward iii.:
Our family names are so common in a Scottish house, that, where there is no land in the case, we always give a to-name.Rnf. 1828 Paisley Mag. 584:
The numerous Orrs to be distinguished, obliged the neighbours to resort to secondary titles, or to-names, for each of the Orrs.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 243:
Den dey ca' me Mudjick fir a tü-name.Dmf. 1912 J. Hyslop Echoes 23:
“Chick's Pool” so called as a compliment to Rob, “Chick” being one of his “to-names.”Bnff. 1930 P. F. Anson Fishing Boats 209:
Some of the curious “tee-names” of the Buckie fishermen: Bosan, Cockle, Shakes . . .Inv. 1951 N. Shaw Hist. Clan Shaw 2:
The Mackintoshes with their tee-name or alias of Shaw.(15) Sc. 1736 Ramsay Proverbs (1776) 43:
Ill workers are ay good to-putters.Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Ballans 8:
When a body's teu-pitten, whit is a body tae deu?(16) Bnff.2 1930:
I can see the teesit-bow yet, a wee bittie to winward.Bnff. 1951:
The one who is teeset on Hogmanay has to treat his mates on New Year's Day.(17) Sh. 1897 Shetland News (31 July):
Dat'll no alter dy character, doo tütak.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Robbi wis a tütak for his carelessness aa his time.Sh. 1956 New Shetlander No. 43. 21:
They [gates] are useful in keeping almark yows an toe-takk gjimmers from stravaegin ower far from their own klivgeng in the scattald grazings.(18) Gsw. 1718 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 40:
The magistrats and councill do strictly prohibit and discharge the giving or receiving of bounteth money or dead earnest for the tallow, or giving or receiving any too weight thereof.
3. Also, as well, too (this last spelling being differentiated in Eng. in this sense from to in the 16th c.). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1706 Sc. Antiquary 102:
He has been in places phar the English Trade tee.Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xxxii.:
The horses were ae baith oot, an' the ludgin' a' tane up, an' mair tu.ne.Sc. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 114:
He's ta'en the prisoner on his back, And a' his heavy iron tee.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 127:
I, tae, by God's especial grace.m.Lth. 1915 J. Fergus The Sodger 15:
A choir the buddy's started tae.Ags. 1929 Scots Mag. (May) 150:
The auld wife sat quiet tae.Gsw. 1978 James Kelman in Moira Burgess and Hamish Whyte Streets of Stone (1985) 75:
Merrit hersel. Mans a bad yin bit. Cunts nevir worked a day in his life. Six weans tay. wm.Sc. 2000 Liz Lochhead Medea 39:
and Kreon the king her faither tae
deid
III. conj. Till, until (Ayr. 1910; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; m. and s.Sc. 1972; Bnff., Ags., Fif., Edb., Arg., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s). Obs. in Eng. since 16th c. but freq. in Ir.Rxb. 1883 J. B. Webber Rambles 5, 88:
Palaverin', tae he was ta'en, . . . Tae ance they get them off their back.Slk. 1892 W. M. Adamson Betty Blether 98:
Tae feast tae yer stamack rebels.Uls. 1902 A. McIlroy Druid Island 48:
Hame I'll no' go, tae a see the doctor comin' oot.Mry. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (25 Sept .) 3:
Come awa' tae we get a wee drap.Gsw. 1958 C. Hanley Dancing in the Streets 72:
You come 'ere tae ah get ye, yah wee devil!Gsw. 1962 Bill McGhee Cut and Run 190:
'Look, Maggie, never mind that,' Ben said. 'It's done an' nothin' can be done aboot it, but Ah'll need a bit o' smother-up.' He sat down facing her. 'Ah want tae anchor here tae it's dark.'Fif. 1964 R. Bonnar Stewartie i. i.:
Get back doon there on your arse to the goods come in.
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"Tae prep., adv., conj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 31 Oct 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tae_prep_adv_conj>