Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AIR, v. To taste; to sniff, smell (Ork. 1975). [ɛr (Marw.)]Ork. 1825 Jam.²:
To air, to taste. (So also for Sh. and Ork., Edm. Gl. 1866.)Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Air, to taste. “I never aired it” — i.e. tasted it. This is prob. Scots in the sense of “get an air or whiff.Ags. 1894 J. F. Mills Jamie Donaldson 3:
I found the old man lying at his ease "airin' the ingin bed", as he said.