Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1738, 1805-1920
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FA'THER, adv. Also fauther, futher and, corresp. to fer (s.v. Far, adv.1, adj.), fether. Sc., mostly s.Sc., variants of Eng. farther, further (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol., 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 7, fether, Fif., m.Lth., Bwk. 1951).Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 89:
But yet a Scotsman's word ay reaches Than theirs far fether!Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 282:
But gin ye want lasses that's trig, Gae up the burn fa'ther to Limey.Fif. 1894 J. W. M'Laren Tibbie and Tam 77:
A wee fauther alang the street were flags stretched across frae the ae window to the ither.Lth. 1920 A. Dodds Songs 25:
Tho' the gangrel, when a yawler loon, Had aften trampit fa'ther.Rxb. 1920 Kelso Chron. (26 Nov.) 2:
So on she gangs, fu'ther an' fu'ther east till she makes for the north. †Used as a n. = time to come, the future.Kcd. 1738 Urie Court Book (S.H.S.) 160:
Anent a Complaint . . . that the most of tennents and subtennents had abstracted themselves from his smiddy, therfor creaves that they may be all bound and pay their dues for the futher.
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"Fa'ther adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/father>
