Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

ACE, n. [es Sc.; is Abd.; js s.Sc. + ès]

1. The smallest possible amount. (The last quotation in N.E.D. for this sense is dated 1737.)Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
Ace, the smallest division of anything, a single particle, a unit.Bnff.² 1931:
There's nae an ace o' difference atween them.Bnff.⁴ 1931:
He ga im seed corn, bit he'll never see an ace o't back.

2. The best.Ayr. 1801 (first publ.) Burns To James Tennant 31–32:
My heart-warm love to guid auld Glen, The ace an' wale o' honest men.Bwk. 1863 A. Steel Poems 53:
Except like D —, that ace o' fellows, Noo pechin' at the devil's bellows.