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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MAUN, n.² Also man, maan (Mry. 1911 Trans. Banffshire Field Club 109); mawn; mand; erron. malin (Ib.). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. maund, a basket, now only dial.

1. Farming: a shallow two-handled basket, usually of wicker or wooden slats, now gen. used for holding potatoes or other dry produce (Dmf. 1889 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 51; Rnf. 1920). Also in Eng. dial.Ags. 1714 Glamis Estate Papers MSS. (28 Sept.):
Three Mands, Two oat ridles, Two bear ridles.Mry. 1752 Records Elgin (S.C.) I. 465:
All riddles, sculls, creels, mauns, beescaps.Ayr. 1796 Burns Cooper o' Cuddy Chorus:
We'll hide the cooper behint the door And cover him under a mawn, O.Sc. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 283:
Wechts or maunds for taking up corn are made either of wood or of skin, attached to a rim of wood.Dmf. 1904 W. Wilson Folk Lore Upper Nithsdale 92:
I hae aye made a gude wheen potato mawns.

2. Fishing: the large round basket in which the catch is collected (Fif. 1951). Hence comb. mancril, a basket for carrying fish or bait (Crm. 1919 T.S.D.C.). See Creel.

3. A bread-basket or platter used for holding oatcakes on the table and generally made of slats of wood (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 461; Abd. 1894 Trans. Bch. Field Club III. 146). Also breed man, id., s.v. Breid, n., 4. (5).Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Journal 23:
A whittle that lies i' the quinzie o' the maun ower the claith.ne.Sc. 1790 Sc. Mus. Museum II. 223:
Forth came auld Madge wi' her split mawn, And bread and cheese a hist o't.Abd. 1813 W. Beattie Parings 9:
Goodman, hand me in o'er the maund.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb viii.:
That's a bit o' the kitchie kyaaks . . . Betty cudna but a' kent that she was pittin't upo' oor maun.