Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AM, v. As in Eng. the first pers. sing. indic. of the verb to be. In I.Sc. usage reg. substituted for have as the aux. in perf. tense. Cf. Is, v., 4.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Tales 27:
I'm read my Bible, bit aftener da Testament. Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 163:
A'm hed as gud kael i mi kog. Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Trad. Lore 148:
I can't get oot for am eaten o' their food. Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 200:
Little dis thoo ken hoo muckle A'm vooed for yin aald ‘durk’.