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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLAINTE, int. [′slɑntjə] also slange. A toast, good wishes before drinking. [Gael. slàinte mhath, good health, also used as a toast] Sc. 1987 Times (24 Jan):
Asda’s blended Scotch whisky is still a good buy at £6.65, and even better is the Co-op’s low strength Arden House (£5.99), plus their wondrous Heatherdale (£6.35) and Majority (£6.69) blends. Slainte mhath!Sc. 1990 Sunday Times (3 Jun):
Malcolm Rifkind, the Scottish secretary, is resorting to desperate measures to curry favour with the Scots. A press release announcing his trip to the Western Isles last week was in Gaelic. Slainte Mhath, Calum!Sc. 1991 Alanna Knight Inspector Faro's Casebook: Second Omnibus (1996) 80:
Taking the whisky bottle from the cupboard, Tom Elgin poured out a couple of generous drams. ‘Sláinte'Sc. 1994 Daily Record (1 Oct) 16:
He was poured a massive measure and after telling off the Morrisons for offering him water in his whisky, Charles downed it as the crowd shouted “Slainte”.Sc. 1994 Herald (13 Oct) 16:
Which takes us back to where we started and the triumphant opening of the Glaschu Brewery. So raise your glasses to the year-round pleasure of delicious Scottish brewed ale. Slainte!m.Sc. 1996 Christopher Brookmyre Quite Ugly One Morning (1997) 31:
'Cheers, by the way'
'Slange.' She drank a foamy mouthful from her glass.Sc. 1999 Daily Record (2 Oct) 14-15:
Before you could say slainte, I’m heading north in search of Scotland’s Whisky Trail. Yes, there is a god.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 9:
'Bit early for this,' she said. 'What the hell. Slainte.'
He raised his glass, souked an inch or more out of it. 'Slainte.' It was only recently that he'd learnt that this was Gaelic for 'health'. For years he'd said 'slange' thinking it was an obscure Scots term signifying 'slam your drink down your throat and let's get another in.'Sc. 2001 Edinburgh Evening News (12 May) 7:
“What makes it more exciting is that Rankin has signed it with character. It says ‘slainte’ which in Gaelic means ‘Here’s to you’ and he has drawn a noughts and crosses board beside his signature.” She added: “It is in very good condition so there will be a lot of interest for it."