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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

YABLE, adj. Also yeable, yib(b)le. Sc. forms of Eng. able (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.: Slk. 1899 C. M. Thomson Drummeldale 87, yibble; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Rxb. 1968 Hawick Express (17 April), yibble; Bwk., Rxb. 1974). Compar. yibler (Rxb. 1913 Kelso Chronicle (7 Jan.) 4). See P.L.D. §§ 74.1., 97.4. [jebl, jɪbl]Sc. 1711 Speech for Mr Dundasse 5:
I have, as weell as I am yable, collected the sense of the Inglis laws.s.Sc. 1857 H. S. Riddell Psalms xxi. 11:
Ane mischeevous contræivence whilk thaye werna yeable til carryie throwe.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 172:
A' that I hae been yable to mak' oot.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 197:
But, can ye stack? And can ye saw? An's yable for the Pheerin'?

Hence adv. gen. yeables, yibbles. adv., possibly, maybe, perhaps (Lth., s.Sc. 1908 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Rxb. 1868 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. 16:
There yeables nane where we're gaun.s.Sc. 1962 Southern Annual 6:
We'll away oot and stert. It'll yibbles fair.