Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Girn, Gyrn, v.¹ Also: gern. [e.m.E. girne, gerne, northern ME. gyrne, var. of ME. grynne, Grin v.] intr. To show the teeth in rage or bad temper; to snarl. 1375 Barb. iv. 321.
Than lukit he awfully thame to, And said, gyrnand, ‘hangis & drawis!’ c1420 Wynt. i. 451 (W).
He … gernyt [E. gyrned] and gapit with his gomys Ib. viii. 3058.
Na feware than fifty Off hedis girnand full vgly c1460 Consail Wys Man 162.
Gentill hund gyrnis or he byt 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. i. 523.
Sum glowrand grim, sum girnand with visage sowre c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 24.
Throw skaldand fyre ay as thay skippit, Thay gyrnd with hiddous granis Ib. li. 10.
He girnis that I am red for byting 1513 Doug. ix. ii. 64.
Lyke as … the wild wolf … Abowt the bowght … Brays and gyrnys Ib. xii. xii. 77.
He, … abowt on euery syde Behaldis, gyrnand full of proper teyn 15.. Christis Kirk 127.
Thay girnit and leit gird with granis 1558-66 Knox I. 157.
The horned bischopis and thare complices cryed, and girned with thare teith 1567 G. Ball. 96.
The sinfull man … With countenance austeir sall on him gyrne 1621 Glasgow Weavers 67.
Injuring him in his office, … thrawing his faice and girning contemptibilly upone him 1662 Crim. Trials III. 613.
Whan he vold be angrie at ws, he wold girne at ws lyk a dowge 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. i. 89.
The Squire replyed in a chaff, He girn'd so, that he seem'd to laff