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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

THORT, prep., adv., adj., v. Also twart (I.Sc.), See T, letter, 9. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. thwart. [θɔrt; I.Sc. twɑrt]

I. prep. Across, from side to side (with motion implied). Arch. or dial. in Eng.Abd. c.1803 D. Anderson Sawney and John Bull 29:
Thor't the road till an idder peel.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems II. 58:
A wee bit mouse ran thort the floor.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 318:
A bit o' twine twart da ha' fae ae laft tae the tither.

II. adv. Across, transversely, obliquely. Obs. in Eng. Hence twartlins, thwartwise, id. (I.Sc. 1972).Sh. 1899–1900 Shetland News (23 Sept., 21 April):
A piece o' bane stikkid twartlens i' da röff o' his mooth. . . . Pittin' da baand o her kishie twart over her broos.Kcb. 1901 Crockett Love Idylls 92:
The sun began to cast long slaty shadows thwartwise across the ruddy purple and golden brown.

III. adj. 1. Lying across, transverse. Comb. t(h)wart back, -baak, -bau(l)k, a joist or cross-beam in the roof of a building (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 203, 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1972), freq. used for storing articles. See Bauk, n.¹Sh. 1898 W. F. Clark Northern Gleams 57:
He wis hingin' by da haunds frae een o' da twart-bauks.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 325:
Dey bed i' ae end an' the coo an' yow i' the ither, wi' da fools api' da twart-backs.Ork. 1951 R. Rendall Ork. Variants 16:
Doun fae the twart-backs he tuk' the flail.Sh. 1955 New Shetlander No. 41.8:
Da moose-wubs hang raepin' fae da twart-backs.

IV. v. 1. To cross-plough or -harrow (Abd. 1920). Also in Eng. dial. Vbl.n. thortin. See Thorter.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Sc. Sangs 41:
The thortin braks the clay sae teuch.

2. To thwart, baffle frustrate.Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
She was never thortit in her life.