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.
Quotation dates: 1898
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BEAINER, n. Also biener (Sh. 1814 Irvine MSS.). "A dog" (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Cf. also Bjenner. Sh. and Ork. 1898 J.J. in E.D.D.:
Beainer is a "lucky word," used by some of the fishermen at the "haaf" or deep-sea fishing. During the fishing it was customary to avoid the ordinary names of persons, animals, and things, and to use paraphrases. The custom is now obsolete, but many of these "lucky words" or "haaf words" survive, used most often in joke.
