Glossary Of Scottish Words Used By Robert Burns: A-Words

A-Words

by Robert Burns

A'

All

Aback

Away, aloof, backwards.

Abeigh

At a shy distance.

Aboon

Above, up.

Abread

Abroad, in sight, to publish.

Abreed

In breadth.

Adle

Putrid water.

Ae

One.

Aff

Off.

Aff-loof

Off-hand, extempore, without premeditation. To shoot aff-loof is to shoot without a rest.

Afore

Before.

Aft, Aften

Oft, often

Agee

On one side.

Agley

Off the right line, wrong, awry

Aiblins

Perhaps

Ain

Own

Airn

Iron, a tool of that metal, a mason's chisel

Airles

Earnest money.

Airl-penny

A silver penny given as airles or hiring money

Airt

Quarter of the heaven, point of the compass.

Aith

An oath

Aits

Oats

Aiver

An old horse

Aizle

A hot cinder, an ember of wood.

Akwart

Awkward, athwart

Alake

Alas

Alane

Alone

Amaist

Almost

Amang

Among

An'

And, if

Ane, ance

one, once

Anent

Over-against, concerning, about

Anither

Another

Applecross

Mackenzie of Applecross.

Aqueesh

Between

Ase

Ashes of wood, remains of a hearth fire.

Asklent

Asquint, aslant

Asteer

Abroad, stirring in a lively manner.

Athout

Athwart

Attour

Moreover, beyond, besides

Aught

Possession, as "in a' my aught," in all my possession.

Auld

Old.

Auld-farran'

Auld farrant, sagacious, prudent, cunning.

Auld lang syne

Olden time, days of other years

Auld-shoon

Old shoes, literally; a discarded lover, metaphorically.

Aumos

Gift to a beggar.

Aumos-dish

A beggar's dish in which the aumos is received.

Ava

At all.

Awa

Away, begone

Awe

Owe

Awfu'

Awful

Awn, Awnie

The beard of barley, oats, etc.; bearded

Ayent

Beyond