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.
Quotation dates: 1737-1792, 1859-1917
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AFT, adv., adj. Adjectival use is rare, as are Compar. after and superl. aftest. [ɑft Sc., aft I.Sc.] Gen.Sc.; arch. and poetical, but rather less so than St.Eng. oft.
1. adv. Oft, often.Sc. 1737 A. Ramsay Proverbs (1776):
Aft ettle, whiles hit.Sh.(D) 1899 Sh. News 26 Aug.:
Crappin heads an young tatties is a supper 'at wid be better fir da young an' auld baith, if dey wid hae it after.Sh.(D) 1916 J. J. H. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr Dezember 29:
Whin patience aandooes at da bouw, da haal is for aftest heavy. [for aftest, Sh. idiom, aftest = quasi-noun.]Bnff. 1887 W. M. Philip Covedale 151:
Ah! div ye nae mind how aft he has clappit you on the heid . . . and gied you sweeties and bawbees?Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 5:
It's nae wonder, tho' I aft gae wrang.Abd. 1917 C. Murray A Sough o' War, Fae France 28:
Owre aft oor pig gaed to the wall.Lnl. 1864 J. C. Shairp Kilmahoe, etc., The Hairst Rig 176:
At twal' hours aft we sat aloof, Aneth the bielding stook.Gsw. 1859 J. Young in Recent Sc. Poets (ed. Murdoch 1881) ii. 200:
Frae schule Jock's aft heen lickit hame to wash his dirty face.Ayr. 1792 Burns Banks o' Doon ii.:
Aft hae I rov'd by bonie Doon.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons, Spring 49:
Now Brawny aft' wad leave the craft.Dmf. 1777 J. Mayne Siller Gun (1808) 39:
Pleas'd, they recount, wi' meikle joy, How aft they've been at sic a ploy.
2. adj. Frequent.Dmf. 1868 Salmon Gowodean 12:
Wi' empty kite and dirdums aft and dour.
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"Aft adv., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/aft_adv_adj>
