Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1720
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†SWARBIT, n. In imprecatory phr. Deil swarbit on, the Devil's curse on, the Devil forbid . . .! (see note).Abd. c.1720 R. Chambers Jests (1832) 128:
I was praying 'Deil swarbit on him!' Deil swarbit is a bitter execration, peculiar to Buchan, Meston's native district.
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"Swarbit n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swarbit>
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