Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1932, 1999
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FOUTH, n., adj. Also footh, fowth, fouthe. [Sc. fu:θ, ne.Sc. + fʌuθ]
I. n. Abundance, plenty, fullness, a full or ample amount or supply (‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Add.; I. and ne.Sc., Ags. 1953). Dim. fouthy (Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 125). Also in n.Eng. dial. For a-fouth, in plenty, see Afouth. †Used adv. with this meaning in 1721 quot.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 353:
When the Wind is in the South, Rain will be fouth.Abd. 1755 R. Forbes Shop Bill 37:
An' first o' hose I hae a fouth, . . . An' some o' our ain quintry grouth.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 78:
Not Covent-garden, clad sae braw, Mair fouth o' herbs can eithly shaw.Ayr. 1789 Burns Capt. Grose's Peregrinations vi.:
He has a fouth o' auld nick-nackets.Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 54:
For a' the ills that mark our wretched lot, (And we poor tods hae fouth o' them I wot).Per. a.1838 R. Nicoll Poems (1842) 17:
The earth has fouth o' trusty hearts.Bwk. 1863 A. Steel Poems 113:
And freely dealt to a' a footh O' blame or praise.Ork. 1905 Dennison Ork. Weddings 33:
A fouth o' girse an' a fouth o' corn, A fu' cog an' frothing horn.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 23:
He'd fouth o' fare, an' that the vera best.Abd. 1929 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 130:
At a craft there's nae muckle fouth o' ready siller.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 23:
"Wi awthin that yer sowel desires
God will stow ye an gie ye fouth
He is the wal at the warld's end,
Lip-fou wi mercy, luve an truth. ... "
Hence ‡fouthie, -y, having abundance, prosperous (Ayr.4 1928; Bnff.2 1943); of cattle, plump, well-filled-out (Lnk. 1825 Jam.); of a crop, abundant, plentiful (Ayr.3 1910; ne.Sc. 1953). Comb. fouthy-like, having a prosperous look (Lth. 1825 Jam.). Also used adv. and in adv. form fouthily, comfortably, amid plenty.Lth. 1813 G. Bruce Poems 173:
A weel-spent youth mak's garr'lous age Aft pass awa fu' fouthily.Dmf. 1835 Sc. Songs (ed.Whitelaw 1844) 202:
Her bein, fouthie minnie, — she's aff an' awa'!Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 100:
The vera best was dune, ye may be sure, That baith o' them micht be richt fouthy fed.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Sc. Songs 28:
Flozent some, but fere an' fouthie.
II. adj. Full; “sated” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Add.). Rare.Ayr. 1834 M. Porteous Real “Souter Johnny” (1858) 12:
Wi' reamin bicker O' nappy gude, or glasses fouth O' foreign liquor.
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"Fouth n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/fouth>
