Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ARN [TREE], n. Also aar, eller, arran (Slg. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 VIII. 84). The alder, Alnus Glutinosa. Also attrib. = made of alder wood. [ɑrn, ern]Sc. 1710 R. Sibbald Fife and Kinross (1803) 386:
It had a large park to the north, planted with oakes and arns, and full of deer.Sc.(E) 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah vi. 13:
Yet ay, like's the arn an' the aik, whan they're fell'd their pith's no kill'd.Nai. 1725 The Thanes of Cawdor (Spalding Club 1859) 429–30:
There are some other small young woods all consisting of arns, above 10,000 in number, some 10, some 15, and others 20 foot height, at Old Calder, Polynach, Bracklach and Standalean.Bnff. 1847 A. Cumming Tales of the North 97:
Through a bush o' green arns I saw how he kissed her.Bnff.2 1931:
Also in L.Bnff. called the arn-oak.Bch. 1920 J. Milne Dreams o' Buchan 24:
The bird that serenades the sun Fae oot yon flooery arn.Ags. 1921 V. Jacob Bonnie Joann 22:
The mune gaes doon at the arn-tree's back In a wee, wee weary licht.w.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
It [arn] seems the same tree which in the West of S[cotland] is also called eller and aar.Dmb. 1817 J. Walker Poems 106:
Stretch'd aside an arn block.
