Show Search Results Show Browse

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HEGS, int. Also haigs, hages. An exclamation or mild oath (Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Ork., Cai., Abd., Rxb. 1956), used to express emphatic assertion or surprise = faith, indeed!, by Jove!Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 50:
Hegs, man, that's true, quo' Jock.
Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems 35:
But, hegs, when the Minister body cam in, The sorry a biddin' he needet but ane.
Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin ii.:
Haigs it cheats me, . . . if the twa o' them hae na been haudin' their Hogmanay at Jeannie Gallowa's.
Lnk. 1885 F. Gordon Pyotshaw iii.:
By hages! Jean, it's weel kent aboot the raws that ye wear the breeks.
Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 71:
Haigs, ay, cairryin a basket is gey het work!

[From Haith, id. on analogy with Fegs and faith.]

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Hegs interj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hegs>

14455

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: