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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Jurdane, n. Also: jurden, jowrdane. [ME. jordan(e (c 1386), jurdan(e (1377), med. L. (Eng.) jurdanus (1384–5), of uncertain origin.]

1. A chamber-pot, urinal. a1500 Bk. Chess 334.
Thai … temyt a jurdane of a strange gust Dovne on his hed 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2474 (B).
Ȝour mowth war meit evin to drink owt a jurdane [Ch. to drink an wesche iurden] Ib. 4146 (B).
A culroun quene, … Off strang wesche scho ill tak a jurdane, And settis in the gylefat 1584–5 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 392.
The statuts … anent myddings, fuilyie, closets, … swyne, jurdanes, privies, and … the filth of the towne

2. a. Applied abusively to a person. b. Comb. with -hedit (-headed). c1500-c1512 Dunb. l. 38.
Thairfoir Quenetyne was bot a lurdane That callit him ane full plum jurdane Ib. lx. 15.
Fowll Jow jowrdane hedit jevellis