Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1822
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
ADAM, prop.n. Sc. usages in phrs.: 1. Adam-an-Eves, pl., the tubers of the orchis (Abd., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1975) from their crude resemblance to two inseparable human figures. Also in n.Eng. dial. Cf. Cain-an'-Abel; 2. Adam's wine, humorously for water as the only drink in Paradise (Sc. p.1700 E. Partridge Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue 12, 1884 N.E.D.). Gen.Sc. Cf. Eng. †Adam's ale, id.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie I. xiii.:
I sloken my drowth wi' Adam's wine.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Adam prop. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00087640>
