Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLENTY, n. Sc. usages:

1. In phr. plenty of, a great number of, many, a large proportion of. Gen.Sc. The Sc. usage carries no implication of sufficiency as does the Eng. phr.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 45:
Plenty of the boys at our school know Greek.

2. With omission of succeeding of, so that the word might be construed as an adj.: many, abundance of. Gen.Sc. The idiom is parallel to the omission of of with other nouns implying quantity, as Bit, Drap, Piece, Sup, etc. See O, prep., 1. (5).Fif. 1845 T. C. Latto Minister's Kail-yard 62:
Eh! but I'd gie them a' their flegs, Wi' plenty clarts, an' rotten eggs.Sc. 1878 Stevenson Inland Voyage 8:
Although there are plenty other ideals that I should prefer.Gsw. 1902 J. Bell Wee MacGreegor (1933) 182:
Did Macgreegor no' pit plenty butter on yer piece?Sc. 1920 L. M. Watt Douglas's Aeneid 88:
Douglas gives plenty illustrations of the same scheme.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 38:
And so I draigle roun' aboot . . . Wi' plenty smeddum.Dmf. 1964 Dmf. Standard (23 May) 15:
Collie Dog Wanted. Capable of going out any distance. Plenty force.