Show Search Results Show Browse

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ABER, adj., v.  Also Aaber (Only Sh.) [′ɑ(:)bər]

1. adj.

(1) Sharp, keen — e.g. of an edge-tool.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
A aber edge, a aber knife.

(2) With sharp outlines; clear and distinct.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De land is very aber de day (clear and distinct, seen far off).
Ib.:
A aber sky (a sky with clouds which are in sharp contrast to the deep-blue in between).

(3) Sharp-sighted; keenly observant; watchful. (Jak.)

(4) Eager, greedy.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 156:
This disease [“heart-wear”] assumed two forms, viz. the aaber and the feckless. In the former the heart was understood to be too big, and there was a voracious (aaber — greedy) appetite, without doing the body any good.
Sh.(D) 1918 T. Manson Humours Peat Comm. 74:
Forby dat, I'm raelly aaber ta hear dis concert ats bein gottin up.
Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Aber aboot or for a thing.
Ib.:
De fish is aber (swallowing the bait greedily).

2. v.

(1) To sharpen, as a knife.Sh.4 1931:
Boy, du micht aaber up da tully ta me.

(2) To stir up and make bright, as a fire.Sh.(D) 1916 J. J. H. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr Janniwary 2:
It's for da young ta aaber-up i da birtek o life.
Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To aber up de birtek — i.e. to quicken the fire.

[O.N. apr, adj., sharp, hard, bad. Sw. Dial. aber, strong, pungent (mostly of smells). (Fær. apur, severe, great.) Jak.]

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

"Aber ". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/aber>

33

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: