Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
APEN, APPIN, v. tr. and intr. A Sc. form of open, v.; used in the same way as open in St.Eng. (and Sc.). Most common now in n.Sc. [′ɑp(ə)n]
1. tr. (Of doors and the like; of what is closed by doors and the like) to open.Sc. 1721 W. Hamilton in Ramsay Poems 206:
My Pack I scarce dare apen mair.Ork.(D) 1920 J. Firth Remin. Ork. Par. (1922) 126:
Bit gin ye dinna apen yer door, We'll ding hid owre apae the fleur.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 31:
But wha wad hae you, when ye sit sae dumb, An' never apens your mou' to sae a mum.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
Fanever the doors sud be apen't.Uls. 1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings by Robin 10:
[The door] wuz apened by a big man.
2. intr. (1) To open (as in 1).Bch.(D) 1926 P. Giles in Abd. Univ. Rev. (July) 223:
There wiz a back door that apen't upo' this closet plaicie.em.Sc. 1988 James Robertson in Joy Hendry Chapman 52 71:
' ... He lowpit up wi the din, an here, he fun he wis staunin in the bottom o his ain grave, an it apent up tae the lift, an the trumpet o the Resurrection dirlin in his lugs ... '
Phr. to ken a' thing that apens and steeks, to be acquainted with every thing (Jam.2).Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick I. 76:
A body wad think he gets wit o' ilka thing it apens an' steeks.
(2) To unfold.Abd.(D) 1928 W. Robbie Mains of Yonderton 162:
It [sc. the stick] apen't up intill a thing wi' three legs, faisent thegither at the heid.
3. In other senses of open — e.g. (1) to make (drills) by opening up the ground; (2) to establish (a shop, etc.); (3) to declare (a kirk, etc.) open; (4) to introduce (a subject of discussion).(1) Uls. 1897 A. McIlroy When Lint was in the Bell viii.:
D'ye think ye cud . . . maybe appin a wheen drills in the boag in the efternoon?(2) Abd.(D) 1928 W. Robbie Mains of Yonderton 40:
It's a braw thing for a man 'at apens a chop fin he gets the fawvors o' the public.(3) Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 95:
I've apened kirks in royal style.(4) Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
It fa's to him o' richt to apen the subject.
