Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1899
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UNDER-WATER, n. Also -watter, unner-wattir, un'er water. Water that has accumulated in the foundations of a house (I.Sc., Abd. 1973). Obs. in Eng.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 203:
The day o' the spait, the hoose wiz jist a sweem o' unner-wattir.Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 24:
Through lack of drainage of any sort there appeared a worse evil in the shape of 'un'er water' below.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 226:
It's ill ta sit inonder da drap, lat alane under-watter.
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"Under-water n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/underwater>
