it generally precedes a fine, warm, and breezy
harvest-day--excellent for the winnowing and in-bringing of the
precious grain."--_G. Henderson._

A midge is as big as a mountain, amaist.

The latitude afforded in the meaning of the word "almost," furnishes
the point in this and several other proverbs.

A mind that's scrimpit ne'er wants care.

"But aiblins, neibour, ye hae not a heart,
And downa eithly wi' your cunzie part.
If that be true, what signifies your gear?
A mind that's scrimpit never wants some care."--_Gentle Shepherd._

A misty morning may be a clear day.

A morning's sleep is worth a fauld o' sheep to a hudderin dudderin daw.

"A reflection upon lazy, sleepy drabs, who prefer nothing to soaking
in their bed in the morning."--_Kelly._

A mouthfu' o' meat may be a tounfu' o' shame.

"That is, if it be stolen--intimating that a little thing picked
will procure a great disgrace."--_Kelly._

A muckle mouth has aye gude luck for its meat.

A muffled cat was ne'er a gude hunter.

An Aberdeen man ne'er stands to the word that hurts him.

A nag wi' a wame and a mare wi' nane are no a gude pair.

An air winter maks a sair winter.

A naked man maun rin.

A man that is destitute must exert himself.

An auld dog bites sicker.

An auld horse may dee ere the grass grow.

"While the grass is growing the steed is starving."--_German._

An auld knave's nae bairn.

"An old fox needs learn no new tricks."--_English._

An auld man's a bedfu' o' banes.

An auld mason maks a gude barrowman.

An auld pock is aye skailing.

An auld pock needs muckle clouting.

Old things, generally, are often in need of repair.

An auld tout on a new horn is little minded.

An old story or complaint receives little attention even although it
may be told in a different form.

Ance awa, aye awa.

When people once go away from home for a time, there is always a
feeling among those left that the bond which binds them to home is
weakened, and very little persuasion is required to take them away
again.

Ance is nae custom.

Ance paid, never craved.

Ance Provost, aye My Lord.

Ance wud, and aye waur.

Ance wud, never wise.

A person once "wud," or deranged, is always suspected of being so,
in the event of anything strange taking place.

Ane at a time is gude fishing.

An eating horse ne'er foundered.