Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1768-1956
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RAFF, n.1 Also raffs (Ork.); raft, as in Eng. dial. and U.S. Dim. raffy. Sc. usages:
1. Plenty, abundance (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff., Abd. (raff), Kcb. (raft) 1967); a large number, crowd, lot. See also Scaff.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 102:
I mind ye liked ay to see a raff.Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1813) 33:
For this he gets the chamber bed, An' raff o' brose and butter.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads II. 363:
Scaff and raff ye ay sall ha', Sae lat the drappie go' hawkie.Bnff. 1844 T. Anderson Poems 93:
When ye hae raff o' houses an lan', An' nievefu's o' gowd at your comman'.Ayr. 1883 W. Aitken Lays 136:
There's the weans, what a raft o' heart-breakin' wee loons.Kcb. 1902 Crockett Banner of Blue ii.:
Today the Cross Keys held a raft of drovers.Abd. 1920 M. Argo Makkin o' John 4:
Some o' the sma'er fowk are beginnin' to see that there's less raff aboot the little lairdies — they got mair privileges fae the auld anes.
Hence deriv. raffie, raffy, abundant, generous, plentiful, well-supplied (Abd. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1967); of crops, animals etc.: thriving, healthy, flourishing (Abd. 1967).Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliii.:
Gin they [hens] binna freely at the point o' perfection, I'll sen' them back till 'er for a fortnicht o' her raffy keep.Abd. 1895 G. Williams Scarbraes 58:
Netherton's owre raffy o' dochters needin' men to be owre perjink.Abd. 1906 Banffshire Jnl. (29 May) 3:
Where aft I waddlet up the brae, Wi' sax gweed raffie wisps o' strae.Sc. 1934 Sc. N. & Q. (Nov.) 162:
Rickle dykes an' reek hens Mak raffie rigs an' lauchie lairds.Abd. 1956 G. Murray Rural Rhymes 9:
I thocht I'd rear some raffy lambs.
2. Rank growth (Mry.1 1925; Bnff. 1967). Hence raffie, of corn: coarse-textured and rank (Slg. 1825 Jam.). Phr. in a raffs, in a tangled or tousled state, of yarn, clothes, etc. (Ork. 1930). Cf. Ravsay.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 138:
The neeps are a mere raff o' hehds. The corn cam up a great raff at first.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 32:
They say it fesses up an awfu' raffy o' weeds wi't.
3. Worthless stuff, rubbish (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 138; Abd. 1967). Obs. exc. dial. in Eng.
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"Raff n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/raff_n1>
