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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

YET, adv. Also yett, yit (Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms lxviii. 13; Sh. 1972 New Shetlander No. 100. 26); yeit. Sc. forms and usages.

Sc. form of Eng. yet.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 21:
Nae peety for them that cause a big stramash and yit
Jist gie in when it comes tae the bit.

Sc. usages:

1. Up to now, now as before, at the present time, = mod. Eng. still. Gen.Sc. Obs. or dial. in Eng.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journal (M.C.) 187:
This man had been out of the country since he was ten years old, but he spoke the language pretty well yet.Sc. a.1758 Sc. Musical Museum I. 110:
I'm o'er young to marry yet.Ayr. 1870 J. K. Hunter Studies 41:
It is evident that there were queer fo'k langsyne as weel as yet.Per. 1974:
Are ye at the schule yet? Are you still at school?

2. In exclam. use as a cheer or rallying cry, in phrs. — yet!, yet for —!, hurrah for —!, — for ever!n.Sc. 1764 W. Fraser Chiefs of Grant (1883) II. 435:
He had taken a fancy to call a little place nigh him by the name of New Aboyn; the old name was Buntie . . . He made an Act in Court, that any person that called it by the old name shou'd pay a forfeit . . . One old woman . . . wou'd never alter her method; and at last, after paying a double forfit, she stood at the door of the Court house, still continueing to cry, and Buntie yet! and Buntie yet!Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Lett. xii.:
Weel dune, gentle chap, yet.Sc. 1825 R. Chambers Illust. Waverley 71:
Jean Gordon, . . . struggling hard with her murderers, often got her head above water, and while she had voice left, continued to exclaim, at such intervals, “Charlie yet! Charlie yet!”Hdg. 1839 J. Martine Reminisc. (1883) 44:
A party of Haddingtonians had gone there [Irvine] to see the pageant . . . While walking along, they were astonished to hear a man cry — “Haddington yet! Haddington yet!”s.Sc. 1847 H. S. Riddell Poems 276:
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet Wi' a' the honours Three.Sc. c.1850 A Few Rare Proverbs:
One ither crucked word, an' I'll kill you. Weel, Rams horns yet, if I should dee for't.Rxb. c.1870 Border Mag. (Sept. 1935) 137:
“Yeit for Boswells!” used to be a common expression among boys when I was young.