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: 1825-1930
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AIR, Aer, Aire, n.2 A small quantity, particle, morsel; a pinch (e.g. of snuff); a whiff; a taste. [e:r, ɛ:r]Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
A peerie air, a mere tasting.Sh.(D) 1891 Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 21:
Ta hadd mi mylk or aer o tay, Pür, peerie, benkled tinnie.Sh.(D) 1924 T. Manson Humours Peat Comm. III. 53:
A air o screechan — da Auld Kirk, ye ken.Ork. 1825 Jam.2:
Air, a very small quantity.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 30:
Bit for a that he could no want the air o drink.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 129:
A aire o' lempit breu.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Sha (show = give) me a air o' snuff wi' thee. Used of any substance, even of wind: “Will we hae a air o' wind tae sail wi'?” Here the word means a small amount and is not the Eng. air.Cai. 1930 “Caithness Forum” in John o' Groat Jnl. (17 Jan.):
If A manage til keep 'e air o' wit A hae A'll noor be 'ere again.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 215:
Gee me an air o' yir mill.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 215:
Tack an air o' the pipe.Bnff.4 1926:
There has been an air of frost.
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"Air n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/air_n2>
