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.
TWICE, adv. Also twise (Abd. 1877 G. MacDonald M. of Lossie xlvii.), twyse (Sh. 1951 Sh. Folk Book II. 63), twize (Ork. 1910 Old-Lore Misc. III. i. 30; I.Sc. 1973), tweize (Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxx.); and, as in Eng. dial., twic(e)t (Lnk. 1890 H. Muir Reminisc, 76; Ayr. 1927 J. Carruthers A Man Beset i. i.; Per., wm.Sc. 1973), twist (Arg. 1920 H. Foulis Vital Spark 143), twyst (Sc. 1887 Jam.). Sc. forms and usages. [twəis; I.Sc., Abd. + twɑez; wm.Sc. + twəist]
Sc. usages in phrs. and deriv.: 1. at twice, twice. Obs. exc. dial. in Eng.; 2. twiser, twiezer, a button in the game of Buttons, which was valued at two shots (Ags. 1921 T.S.D.C.), occas. of a marble sim. assessed (Ib.). See twaeock s.v. Twa, II. 1. (7); 3. the twice(t), for a second time (Abd., Fif., Dmb., Dmf. 1973).1. Abd. 1884 Hatton Estate MSS.:
I would have the clay land coming in at twice instead of all in one year.Abd. 1914 J. Leatham Daavit 16:
Ye'll better try me at twise.2. Ags. 1887 J. McBain Arbroath 341:
The coterie who preferred buttons to bools were deeply versed in the mysteries of “twisers,” “twecks,” and “mites”.3. Arg. 1931:
I tellt ye the wanst an' that's plenty: if I hev tae tell ye the twicet ye may look oot.
