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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HEARIN(G), vbl.n. Sc. usages:

1. For Sc. Law phr. hearing in presence, see Presence.

2. A scolding, “lecture,” “talking to” (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Arg. 1936 L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 14). Gen.Sc. (rare in ne.).Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xiv.:
She aye ordered a dram, or a sowp kale, or something to us, after she had gi'en us a hearing on our duties.Sc. 1824 Susan Ferrier The Inheritance (1984) 375:
Breakfast was but just over, when the return of the renegade Babby Braidfoot was formally announced to Miss Pratt, who immediately left the room for the purpose, as she said, of giving her a good hearing. [footnote: A good hearing in Scotland signifies the very reverse of what it expresses, and means neither more nor less than a downright scold.] Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Cal. (1874) xi.:
He went up to the stable, and gave old Broadcast a hearing for not keeping his mare well enough.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxiii.:
The next thing I heard was her gi'en Simon a hearin' for breakin' the crystal an' crockery ware.Per. 1895 I. McLaren Auld Lang Syne 263:
Bring them in, Elspeth, or a' gie them a hearin, — they've juist been the torment o' ma life.Ags. 1956:
I got a hearin last nicht but I didna listen tae it. Edb. 2003:
She got a hearing from the boss about her perpetual lateness.

3. Report, news, a long story, used ironically in phr. a fine hearing, unpleasant news (Sh.¹⁰ 1956). Now dial. in Eng.Sc. 1896 L. Keith Indian Uncle 4:
That's fine hearing for me, and it ill sets your tongue.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (28 Aug.):
He [it] wid be a job an' a hearing.

4. An attendance at public worship to hear a preacher.Sc. 1827 C. J. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce I. xiii.:
What if the Monkshaugh family should countenance Mr Gideon, by giving him a day's hearing?

5. = children's hearing s.v. Childer.Sc. 2003 Evening Times 25 Apr 13:
The children's panel received a record number of referrals in 2001-2002 with nearly 40,000 children dealt with by the hearings system.
Just three months earlier a report by Audit Scotland highlighted 38 failings in the hearings system branding it "too slow" with many cases taking eight months to resolve.