Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1880
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CHRISTEN, n. and adj. An Uls. form of St.Eng. Christian, n. and adj. (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.), used in quot. in colloq. Eng. sense of "a human being." The form Christen was found in St.Eng. up to the 17th cent. (see O.E.D.).Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. Dwn.:
The poor dog was lyin' on a Christen's bed.
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"Christen n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/christen_n_adj>
