Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1812-1813, 1880-1949
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EFT, adv., adj. Also aeft. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. aft, now only nautical. [ɛft Sc., but I., s.Sc. + æft]
1. adv. Towards the after part, esp. of a ship: towards, near, the stern (Sh., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Fif., Bwk., Ayr., Arg. 1950).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 114:
Pu' eft the sheet, boys, wi' your nippers!Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Maerch 7):
A whalp wags his tail frae da shooders an aeft.
2. adj. Belonging to the after part (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.10 1950; Bnff.2 1943; Bwk.2, Arg.3 1950); back, rear, in general. Also superl. eftmaist (Bwk.3 1950).Sc. a.1813 A. Murray Hist. Europ. Langs. (1823) II. 28:
I have heard the Scotch shepherds say, "Grup the aftmost sheep."Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 135:
The blugga-banes of the halibut were stuck in the waa o' da lodge and under the eft hinnie spot o' da sixern for luck.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 9:
I asked her fir a bag ta kerry da hen atil, bit shu said, "Man, tak her attween your haands, bit noteece it shu's aye lookin' i' your face da eft end ootermist."
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"Eft adv., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/eft>
