Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1800, 1935
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ELLER, n. The elder tree, Sambucus nigra (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also common in Eng. dial. Used attrib., hence comb. elder-flour wine, wine made from the flowers of the elder tree with the addition of sugar, white of egg, lemon juice, raisins and yeast (Per.4, Bwk., Uls.4 1950).Sc. c.1800 Lady Nairne Songs (1905) 170:
Mistress Jean was makin' the elder-flower wine; “An' what brings the laird at sic a like time?”Sc. 1935 in Border Mag. (Sept.) 134:
When the port wine's on the eller bus' An' the sherry's on the hazel.
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"Eller n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/eller>
