dial.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

dial. stands for Dialect, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Labels a word or sense used mainly in a regional or social variety of the language rather than in standard English, such as "youse" or "bairn." Some dictionaries name the region, as in "Scot. dial."

Example: bairn (n.) dial., chiefly Scottish and Northern English, a child

Usage notes

Dialect words often preserve older English forms; "bairn" descends from Old English bearn. The label differs from Brit. or US, which mark national varieties rather than local ones. Major records of dialect vocabulary include the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) and Joseph Wright's English Dialect Dictionary (1898-1905).

Related abbreviations

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

• compar. – Comparative
• conj. – Conjunction
• contr. – Contraction
• dat. – Dative
• derog. – Derogatory
• det. – Determiner
• dim. – Diminutive
• esp. – Especially
• etym. – Etymology
• euph. – Euphemism
• fem. – Feminine
• fig. – Figuratively

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

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