Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HARDEN, n. Also †hardyn (Rxb. 1801 J. Leyden Compl. Scot. Gl. 341), hardin (Abd. 1873 P. Buchan Inglismill 32), and corrupt or erron. forms hardest (Sh. 1897 Shetland News (7 Aug.)), hardow. A very coarse cloth, made from Hards or the refuse of flax or hemp (Ork., Abd., Rxb. 1956). Also used attrib. and fig. or in pl. Cf. Harn, n.¹, id. Now only hist.Sc. 1703 Lady G. Baillie Household Bk. (S.H.S.) 171:
For 10 ells harden. £2. 5/- (Scots).Bnff. 1735 Trans. Bnff. Field Club (1884) 87:
Given for 5 ells of harden to be a sackcloth, 18s. 8d.Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 46:
Frae his oxter pouch he pu'd His harden bag an' a his gowd.Lth. 1829 G. Robertson Recollections 345:
Sufficing . . . to keep their respective families in linen, or in harden, for shirting and other purposes.Rxb. 1868 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. 9:
The wages were subsequently advanced to 2/-, and then to 2/6, with two suits of hardens annually.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (7 Aug.):
Hardow cloth was made from lint, very imperfectly dressed, a great portion of the rind still adhering to the fibre.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 17:
In spring the corn was sown broadcast by the hand from a “harden sheet.”

Combs.: (1) harden goun, a garment of very coarse linen worn in church by penitents; (2) harden poke, a bag made of coarse linen (Per. 1902 E.D.D.).(1) Sc. 1883 D. Graham Writings II. 20 Note:
The “sacken sark” had a variety of names, such as “the harden gown,” “the sack gown,” “the harn gown,” and “the linen.” Each parish was supposed to have one of these habits.