Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1908-1928, 1991-1994
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DAN, Dann, adv. Sh. and Ork. forms of Eng. then (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., dann). Freq. found in phr. dan-a-days, in those days. See P.L.D. §165. Cf. Den, adv.Sh. 1928 T. M. M. Shewan in Manson's Sh. Almanac 187:
Dan-a-days we didna tink muckle ipo' wark.Sh. 1991 William J. Tait in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 45:
An hert an sowl an boady seem
Pickit wi aa da bloed an ime
O history: dan sometimes I mind,
As veevly as I mind da sea,
Sunlycht an shedow o dy een,
An aa da sunlycht meant tae me. Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 29:
Dey laekly lippened a lecture
But I stöd an I minded mesell
Younger as her, but dan, on a croft -
You come tae reality younger. Sh. 1994 Laureen Johnson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 164:
Da faces in da car wis aa lookin up at da hoose. Dey solisted a meenit, dan a blue-cled wife got oot, an da car set aff fer da nordert.Ork. 1908 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 222:
Da Market waas a grand affair dan-a-days.
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"Dan adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dan>
