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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SING, v.¹, adv., n.¹ Sc. †forms in pr.p. singan(d) (Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 202; Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 142). Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. In combs. and phrs.: (1) singin-cake, a sweet biscuit baked and given to children on New Year's Eve in return for a song, recitation or the like (Fif. 1918). See Cake, n., 3.; (2) singin e'en, New Year's Eve, Hogmanay, when children went round the doors singing songs for cakes, etc. (Ags., Fif. 1825 Jam.). Cf. (1) above; ¶(3) singing-glasses, musical glasses; ¶(4) singing-keg, used jocularly for the chest or lungs, the vocal organs in gen.; (5) singing-lines, secular verses substituted for the authorised metrical version of the Psalm and used by choirs, etc. in practising the tunes; (6) to sing dool, to lament, bewail one's luck. See Dool, n.¹, 4.(6); (7) to sing dumb, to be silent, keep “mum”. Gen.Sc. See Dumb, 1.(7); (8) to sing laigh, id.; (9) to sing quiet Maggie, = (7) (Ags. 1970); (10) to sing sma, to adopt a deferential or submissive tone or attitude, to “pipe down” (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.). Gen.Sc. and in colloq. or dial. Eng.(1) Fif. 1875 A. Burgess Poute 119:
A bun an' a cake o' shortbread to gie their neebors their singin' cakes.Fif. 1894 D. S. Meldrum Margrédel Intro.:
About Hansel Monday dining at Oliphants' crowned the joys of singing-cakes.(2) Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 24:
Singin'-e'en she's owre aft seen, She's shakin' hands wi' fifty.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 62:
Fan Singineen time cam' roond, she gae a' the little uns a cake o' gingebread.Fif. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 203:
We aye kept Singin'-e'en in Fife, and New Year's Day, but there was no' muckle nottice taken of Christmas.(3) Slg. 1792 G. Galloway Poems 34:
To see Mr Cartwright's singing glasses.(4) Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 55:
Where not a ray Of ardent heat may spoil my whistle-pipe, Or cause my singing-keg to cast a gird.(5) Wgt. 1878 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 208:
The singing-lines lingered longer there than anywhere else.(6) Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 65:
The fum'lin' cuifs maun noo sing dool.(7) Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 72:
Young primpin Jean, wi cuttie speen, Sings dum' to bake the bannocks.Abd. 1966 Buchan Observer (31 May) 5:
Eence they see ye're singing dumb they'll ha'e nae trouble droonin' ye oot.(8) Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce III. iv.:
That dumb-foundered me; so I was thankful to sing laigh.(10) Sc. 1829 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 209:
We maun sing sma'. In a' things he's our maister.Per. 1835 R. Nicoll Poems 112:
Then I maun sing sma', just to keep a hale skin.Abd. 1895 G. Williams Scarbraes 23:
A poem over which the Critics would “sing sma'”.Fif. 1926 I. Farquhar Pickletillie 217:
The kirk precentor — who, poor man, however loudly he might sing in the “box,” was made to “sing sma'” at home.

2. As in Eng., of a missile. etc.: to buzz, whizz in the air. Phr. to lat sing. to let fly, to hit out (ne.Sc., Ags., Dmf. 1970). Cf. II. and III.Abd. 1959 People's Jnl. (5 Dec.) 13:
The chiels ready tae lat sing wi' 'er nieves at 'er ain shadas.

II. adv. With a humming or whizzing sound. Cf. I. 2.Abd. 1958 People's Jnl. (9 Aug.):
Fan he yokit tae screw aff the [radiator] caip it gaid sing in the air.

III. n. A whizzing blow, a wallop, smack (ne.Sc., Dmf., Rxb. 1970).s.Sc. 1927 Scots Mag. (April) 4:
That Price needs a sing on the side o' the lug.