Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ABIT, A' BIT, EBBIT, conj. phr. Also abut. Ah, but —; aye, but —. [′ɑ:bət Sc., ′ɛbit Rxb.]Mry.¹ 1928:
A'bit, ma man, fat is that I hard inoo?Ib.:
A' bit yer ahin.wm.Sc. 1965 Alan Sharp A Green Tree in Gedde (1985) 339:
'She doesn't skelp him.'
'No.'
'Does he skelp her?' Moseby grinned and kissed her eyes.
'No, he doesn't. Now get to sleep.'
'Abut Daddy ...'
'No abuts, get you down to sleep.' Gsw. 1990:
Abit, ye promised ye wid take us wi ye.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 144:
Abit sir, I aye fin' that Honesty's the best policy; I got the bonny apples oot o' yer ain garden!Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Ebbit.