Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

UNTHOLEABLE, adj. Also ontholeable. Unbearable, intolerable (Sc. 1825 Jam., Cai. 1904 E.D.D.). Gen.Sc. Hence untholeably, adv., unbearably. See Thole, v., 2.Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) III. 94:
He got untholeably divertin, and folk compleened o' pains in their sides.Ayr. 1870 J. K. Hunter Life Studies 51:
Her fit grew untholeable.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 159:
Her scoorin' and her soopin' have been juist untholeable.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ. i. xxiv.:
The gutsy wull be tormentit wi' ontholeable drouth an' yapness.Sc. 1991 John McDonald in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 90:
whaur yince, the breid o life wis broken
fir an untholeable luve;
whaur, yince again, chiels pit bye net an truan,
heuk an hemmer; tae gether ablow a licht -
that micht hae been anither birth.