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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ETHERIN, Eitherin, adv.Either. [′eðərɪn(z) Sc., but Sh. and ne.Sc. ′ɛdər-, ′edər-]

1. Forms: etherins, -ans, aither(a)ns, aitheren, eitherans, -ens, -n; Sh., ne.Sc., aidern, aid'rin, edderan, -(e)n, -in(s), eddiran, eid(d)erin.Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 201:
In the byegaun, no thinking o' ony ill eitherin, Guid shall be my protection.Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 593:
A wirtie, onnist man az evvir pat a drap o' hey brù in a ùlie kig, or hùlkie eddiran.Dmb. 1846 W. Cross Disruption xiv.:
As for the cockit hat, I'm no verra sure about it eitherens.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Humours Peat Comm. II. 167:
Dir gotten nothin ta du wi da Commission, or da consort eddern.Abd. 1926 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Review (July) 226:
Bit it hizna been that short eidderin.

2. Usages: (1) After a neg. = any more than another (w.Sc. 1825 Jam.², etherins; Sh.¹¹, Bnff.², Abd.² 1944, edderin(s)).Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang.:
I dinna like it aitherans: I do not like it either.Abd. a.1880 W. Robbie Yonderton (1929) 93:
Tam mumbled something about his profit being “nae verra ill t' coont etherin”. [The form eithern also appears on p. 18.]Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 124:
Cauld shurely canna kill me, or weet edderin' mam, or dan I'd been lang büried.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 109:
Weel, awyte, aw wisna owre seen that day edderin.Arg.¹ 1944:
He got a bad name, but he wusna such a bad fellow eitherans.

†(2) Besides, as well (Bwk. 1825 Jam.², etherins).Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 119:
He needs or wants tae be sair'd etherans.

(3) In phr. by edderins, “not very well and not very ill” (Bch. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.).