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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AFFCOME, n. (See also Offcome.) [′ɑfkʌm]

1. The way any business turns out, or a person “comes off” from an encounter or enterprise; outcome, result; reception (good or bad); escape. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Affcome, the termination of any business, the reception one meets with; as “I had an ill affcome,” I came off with an ill grace, I was not well received.Sc. 1825 Jam.²:
Affcome, used in the sense of escape.Sc. a.1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 178:
I gied him an affcome. [Expl. by Chev. as “a downsetting.”] em.Sc. 1988 James Robertson in Joy Hendry Chapman 52 71:
' ... But he bummelt an stummelt aroun i the derk, an the affcome o't wis he gaed heelster-gowdie intae a grave that wis newly howkit for a burial the morn's morn. ... 'Fif. 1823 W. Tennant Card. Beaton 156:
“I houp we'll hae a gude aff-come.” — “I'm for the good oncome, deil a fear for the affcome.” Fif. 1894 D. S. Meldrum Margrédel 21 (E.D.D.):
How are ye? It's an ill affcome ye've had.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 54:
And the aff-come o' it a' I'll be blawn into the Puir-hoose like auld Tam.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
Affcome, the issue, result.e.Dmf.² 1931:
The affcome of the quarrel was, he lost his work.

2. (As a means of escape), an excuse, shift, pretext.Sc. 1825 Jam.²:
That's a puir affcome.

3. A strange saying; a smart or witty remark.Bnff.² 1931:
She's a brazen-faced limmer. Wisna that a gey affcome?Id. 1931:
He keepit a'body lauchin at some o' 'is affcomes.Abd.(D) 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert vi.:
“Middlin' things o' a'thing's best” — a favourite affcome o' his.Wgt. 1904 J. F. Cannon Recoll. of Whithorn 73:
Hughie Creadie was noted for his “queer affcomes.”