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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AFF-HAND, -HAN', -HAUN', AFF HAND, adv., adv. phr., adj. [′ɑf′hɑn, etc.; see Hand]

1. adv. Like St.Eng. offhand: Without delay, at once; extempore, on the spur of the moment, without deliberation; in a free and easy manner. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1725 A. Ramsay G. Shepherd (1728) Act II. sc. i.:
Ah! Symie, ratling Chiels ne'er stand To cleck and spread the grossest Lies aff hand.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxxviii.:
Ye suld ne'er do ony thing aff hand out o' your ain head.Sc. [1907] D. MacAlister Echoes (1923) 125:
The chapman-barons troke affhan' The folk like nowte an' a' that.Abd. 1928 P. Grey Making of a King 7–8:
An' fan he got tired o' ony o' them he juist pooshened them aff hand.Abd. 1928 J. Wilson Hamespun 41:
He had preach't it in private, he kent ilka line, An' could screed it aff-han' frae beginnin' to en'.Lth. 1894 P. H. Hunter James Inwick 46:
It's ower sarious a maitter to be settled aff-hand, at ae doun-sittin.Edb. 1772 R. Fergusson Poems, Hallow Fair (1925) 21:
Wow, but they lie fu' gleg aff hand To trick the silly fallows.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems, Cawther Fair vii.:
Whup frae their pouch a bunch o' notes, An' pay them ilka mark Aff-hand that day.Hdg. 1902 J. Lumsden Toorle, etc. 127:
Whyles she “but to hae me aff-haun,” Whyles “she wadna wed for a Croun.”Ayr. 1786 Burns Ep. Young Friend v.:
Ay free, aff han', your story tell, When wi' a bosom crony.

2. adj. Done off-hand; careless, free and easy, unpremeditated; unceremonious, brusque. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1917 D. G. Mitchell Kirk i' the Clachan 161:
Whatna things? He asks, in an aff-han' way.Abd.(D) 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 55:
An' onything ye wid like keepit, jist tell them in an affhan' wye, an' they wunna think it worth tellin'.Edb. 1839 W. McDowall Poems, Lines to an Old Gentleman xxix.:
They affhand, imperfect sketches.Arg.¹ 1928:
“Did ye see the maister?” “Ay, ah saa 'um an' he wuz gey affhan wi' me.”