Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FORD, n. Also fore. Something of value discovered, a find (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh.¹⁰ 1953). Used also ironically to mean a poor result, a “wash-out,” esp. in phr. to come til a fore (Ib.).Sh. 1897 Shet. News (2 Oct.):
My fishin' is come till a fore da nicht!Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He tought he was fonn a fore. Hit cam' till a puir ford.