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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FLAN, n., v. Also flann, ¶flawen. Cf. Flam, n.¹, v.¹

I. n. 1. A gust of wind, esp. one blowing smoke down a chimney, a back-draught (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; I. and n.Sc. 1951).Ags. 1774 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' iv.:
They a' drive to the ingle cheek, Regardless o' a flan o' reek.Slg. 1818 W. Muir Poems 12:
A flan o' reek, Or boiling water's caldron smeek.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 25:
There was a sough, like flann or flaw.Bnff. 1879 Banffshire Jnl. (25 Feb.):
A flan cam doon the lum an' blew The ase a' ben the fleer.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 87:
What fell bluffert blew him here Wi' sic a hertless flan.Bnff. 1939 J. M. Caie Twixt Hills 19:
For the win' had blawn fae the north for a week An' the lum had a nesty flan.

2. A sudden squall of wind blowing from high land over the sea (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰, Fif., Arg.³ 1951). Also fig. Adj. flannie, squally (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh., Fif., Ags. 1951).Sc. 1701 J. Brand Descr. Zetland (1883) 122:
Also tho the Wind be not so strong, there will come Flanns and Blasts off the Land as to their swiftness and surprisal something like to Hurricanes.Sh. 1742 J. Mill Diary (S.H.S.) 3:
The side of the boat was laid under water by a flan off Bressey Head.Sh. 1834 in Old-Lore Misc. X. iii. 131:
Near Gulberwick, a flann or blast of wind from the land upset the frail craft.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (30 November):
Da flanns o doctrin is aye warst atween Hallamas an Beltan.

†3. A whiff, puff (of vapour).Sc. 1754 J. Justice Scots Gardiner 96:
A Flann of rancid Dung steam will destroy a whole crop of those early Cucumber plants.

II. v. To blow in sudden gusts; to sweep down a chimney, of smoke driven by wind I. and n.Sc., Ags., Fif. 1951).Sc. 1825 Jam.:
The wind's flannin down the lum.Abd. 1903 Banffshire Jnl. (16 June.):
Sometimes the smoke would flawen down, more especially if the wind was in an ill airt.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
The wind's surely geen round, for the reek's keepan flanan oot noo.