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.
Quotation dates: 1700-1988
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THIR, pron., adj. Also †thirr (Sc. 1706 Seafield's Letters (S.H.S.) 177), †thire, †their; thur; and, in sense I. when used predicatively, thirs (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.) poss. arising from orig. thir is. [ðɪr]
I. pron. The pl. of this, these (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; m. and s.Sc. 1972), also in n.Eng. dial. but obsol. or obs. in n. Sc.Sc. 1705 Seafield's Letters (S.H.S.) 165:
There are of those to be laid aside who will be for the succession, and some of thire I know.Ayr. 1817 H. Campbell Wanderer 21:
O thir ye now sae much disdain.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 18:
In kittle times like thir the man might pass.Kcb. 1861 R. Quinn Heather Lintie 41:
But how thir cam' did I incline, I weel cou'd tell.s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 185:
When ‘thir' is used absolutely without a noun following, it generally becomes ‘thirs'; ‘Thirs is meyne.'Sc. 1887 Stevenson Merry Men ii.:
They're grand braws, thir that we hae gotten.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 88–89:
Tod Lowrie says thir's kittle times for property in land.Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xxvii.:
I'll make a patch-work quilt o' thir!Sc. 1923 R. Macrailt Hoolachan 28:
Thir's my best Sawbath breeks, ye ken.Edb. 1928 A. D. Mackie In Two Tongues 30:
Thir's no the bogles That will haunt me.Gsw. 1971 M. Burgess Day before Tomorrow 15:
I've read thur, see.
II. adj. These (Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; m. and s.Sc. 1972). Freq. in the 18th c. in legal use in the formula thir presents, the present document.Gsw. 1700 Gsw. Charters (1906) II. 285:
Provideing allwayes that thir presents do no wayes prejudge the said burgh of Dumbartoun.Sc. 1706 R. Wodrow Early Letters (S.H.S.) 287:
By insisting any further on thir heads.Sc. 1720 Caled. Mercury (2 Sept.):
Thir Lands to be Sold, have been considerably let down in the Rent.Bnff. 1729 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. I. 44:
In witness whereof I have subscribed thir presents.Sc. 1776 Outlaw Murray in Child Ballads No. 305 A. xxii.:
‘Thir landis are mine,' the Outlaw said.Ayr. 1790 Burns Tam o' Shanter 155:
Thir breeks o' mine, my only pair.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xxxix.:
The laird there bought a' thir beasts frae me.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck i.:
I heard her wi' thir lugs it's i' my ain head.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 109:
But a' thir things are an emp'y sang.Mry. 1914 H. J. Warwick Tales 135:
Ye were a richt nickum o' a loon in thir days.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 5:
Thir braes hed seen unco sichts.Sc. 1931 I. Burnett The Ravens I. iii.:
Thir MacDonalds are ettling for a quarrel.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 90:
The stuckies arna jist ma wale o burd;
It's nae gret pleisure whan thair sang is heard;
thair jaikit's bonnie but a wee thing flash ...
the tail's sae short as tae be near absurd.
Thir burdlife keelies, impident an gash,
awroads thay flee aboot the kintraside
