bytime

See also: by-time

English

Alternative forms

• by-time

Etymology

From Scots bytime, equivalent to by- +‎ time.

Noun

bytime (usually uncountable, plural bytimes)

1. (chiefly Scotland) A period of leisure; spare time
   • 1976, Robert Haven Schauffler, Thanksgiving:

     " […] Doth our doughty Captain go birdsnesting and nutting in his bytimes?”

Scots

Alternative forms

• by-time, bye-time

Etymology

From by- +‎ time.

Noun

bytime (plural bytimes)

1. Spare time; leisure time.
   • 1824 June, [Walter Scott], “Letter XI. The Same to the Same [Darsie Latimer to Alan Fairford].”, in Redgauntlet, […], volume I (in English), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 230:

     He was a professor in this Revolution warld, but he liked an orra sound and a tune on the pipes weel aneugh at a bye-time; and abune a', he thought he had gude security for the siller he lent my gudesire over the stocking at Primrose-Knowe.

   • 1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Lad with the Silver Button: Across morven”, in Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […] (in English), London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC, page 151:

     For my good friend, the minister of Essendean, had translated into the Gaelic in his by-time a number of hymns and pious books which Henderland used in his work, and held in great esteem.