Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1880-1929
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ATFARES, n.pl. Behaviour. (See also Atferd, Attifer.) [′at-feərz (Marw.)]Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 49:
Hid wus sae winderfu' tae see the atfares o' the mither selkie. [Atfares — behaviour. Glossary.]Ork.(D) 1915 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore .Misc., Ork. Shet., etc. VIII. i. 43:
Illdeuars cinna get ap wi' atfares like dat noo.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Atfares . . . ongoings, capers, behaviour. E.g. "What atfares is he efter noo?" "Queer atfares."
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"Atfares n. pl.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/atfares>
