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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EMBRO, n. A familiar form of Edinburgh (m.Lth.¹, Ayr.⁸, Rxb.⁴ 1950). Also Embrough; Embrugh (m.Lth. 1786 G. Robertson Ha'rst Rig (1794) xciv.); Embra; Enbra' (Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister 29); Enbrugh (Ayr. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 161); Enbrough (Sc. 1797 Scots. Mag. (Jan.) 52); Enbro; Edimbro. Now mostly in literary usage. Also attrib.Ayr. 1789 Burns Elegy Departed Year ll. 29–30:
Nay, even the yirth itsel does cry, For Embro' wells are grutten dry.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley (1817) xxix.:
As far as Perth; where ye may be supplied with a guide to Embro', as your occasions shall require.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xcviii.:
Wha would hae thought it, that I, an aged 'literate grandmother, would hae bamboozlet an Embrough Writer to the Signet on a nice point.Ayr. 1826 Galt Lairds i.:
O that wearyfu' jaunt to Embro' to see the King!Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona i.:
Man, it's weel seen ye're no very acquant in Embro!Gsw. 1988 Michael Munro The Patter Another Blast 22:
Embra A broad Glaswegian version of Edinburgh: 'Course Ah've been tae Embra - wance.' m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 86:
The suin in azure heich alowe,
wild geese gane frae the watter-howe,
spring smoors oot winter's bane.
I wha in Edimbro wes pent Cai. 1991 John Manson in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 78:
Pit oot the yowes and lambs
In the morning at the lambin
Bifore gaan back til wark
In Aiberdeen or Embro Sc. 1992 Herald 19 Nov 12:
With an exhibition and other sideshows of its own, Embro plans to lay seige to the toune's big year in much the same way that it hijacked the philosophers and economists who two years ago saluted the anniversary of Kirkcaldy's Adam Smith. Sc. 1994 Herald 13 Oct 14:
A wee shudder went through your Embra diarist at the image of Pat "Can Do" Lally taking the May Day salute from the ranks of cooncil workers straddling bin lorries and direct labour vans trundling across George Square, ... Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 48:
In hyne-aff Embro, or far-oot Lunnen, twis fair the dab tae tell the warld an its mither ye were gay - faith! ye micht roar it frae the reeftaps in yon cosmopolitan hotch-potch o fowk... Sc. 1998 Big Issue (29 Jan-4 Feb):
Even more embarrassment awaits when it's revealed that Gaz, just like the crook of Embra, is a Mason. w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 17:
Three guesses where an then yir oot.
It's no Embra, Perth or Stirlin.
Nae mair guessin, heids are burlin. Sc. 2001 Sunday Herald 16 Dec :
Not all was comradely and festive in spirit when the new social justice minister Iain Gray had a wild west showdown last Wednesday with Charlie Gordon, Glasgow Council's bossman. Gordon had been whipping up Weegie fury at the way in which the Executive in Embra is doing down his dear green place and depriving it of funds.

Hence Embrosher, n., a native of Edinburgh.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail c.:
To be sure, the Embroshers are no without a genteelity — that maun be condescended to them.