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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

YETHER, n., v. Also yeather; yedder, -ar. [′jɛðər]

I. n. 1. A long pliant rod or withy, usu. of willow or hazel, used in the interlacing of baskets, fencing, etc.Rxb. 1834 Border Mag. (May 1938) 75:
Cutting yethers to Joseph's new fences.

2. (1) A severe blow, as with a switch or cane (Lnk. 1825 Jam.), or with the hand (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); a whack, in gen.Ayr. 1830 in R. Broun Mem. Curl. Mab. 71:
Rip-raping on frae random wicks The winner gets a yether.

(2) The mark left by such a blow, a weal, bruise (Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 158); the mark left by tight binding with a cord or the like (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 371:
Below the e'en as blae's a yeddar.

II. v. 1. “To entwine stakes very tightly with long rods for a fence” (Dmf. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 365); to tie together very firmly, esp. so as to leave a pressure mark on what has been bound (Rxb. 1825 Jam., ‡1923 Watson W.-B.). Ppl.adj. yeddert, marked by being too tightly bound (Dmf. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 365).Slk. 1818 Hogg Wool-gatherer (1874) 68:
Some o' them that fought the deil, hand to fist, and dang him at the last — yethered him and yerked him till he couldna mou' another curse.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xii.:
A horse to carry as much of the inside gear as we could yether on to his back.

2. To beat or lash severely, to bruise with a cane (Lnk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.). Hence ppl.adj. yethert, bruised, battered, fig. (weather-)beaten; vbl.n. yethering, a striking or beating.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man (1972) x., xxxii.:
I like nae yethering ahint backs. Ane may ward a blow at the breast, but a prod at the back's no fair. . . . Yether him up, puik him weel.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 90:
Deel hae'm! his doup soud be weel yethert.Dmf. 1874 R. Reid Moorland Rhymes 18:
Yon hill, athort its yethert broo.

3. To trounce (a person) (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).