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 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†ETHER, n.¹ An ear of barley (Bnff.⁹ c.1927). Gen. found in proverbial phr. below.Bnff.¹³ 1916:
My father never heard it used but proverbially, meaning “a promise of something to come.” When old persons would be despairing of making both ends meet a kindly neighbour would say: — “Cheer up, for I see the pint o' the ether.”