Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CHUN, CHIN, n.1, v.1 Also shu(i)n. [tʃʌn Upper Clydesd., Dmf., but Kcb. + tʃɪn and Rxb. + ʃyn and ʃʌn]
I. n. “A term applied to the sprouts or germs of barley, in the process of making malt; also to the shoots of potatoes, when they begin to spring in the heap” (Gall., Dmf. 1825 Jam.2); “the spring or ‘sprootings' of potatoes” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 134, chuns; Gall.3 c.1867); “the sprout or germ of potatoes or corn” (Dmf. 1855 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. (1869) II. 721); “a sprout of a seed-potato” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Known to Fif.13 (for Dmf.) and Kcb.9, Kcb.10 1940 in form chun.Sc.(E) 1926 “H. M'Diarmid” Drunk Man . . . Thistle 37:
Sic leprous chuns as tatties have That cellar-boond send spindles gropin' Towards ony hole that's open.sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
chuns, chunnins, chirns, shuns potato sprouts.Kcb. c.1914 (per Kcb.8):
This potato has ower mony chins.Dmf. 1843 Letters T. Carlyle to his Brother (Marrs 1968) 574:
A rather scanty supply-jackets, chuns and clay, all mixed together.
II. v.
1. To nip off the shoots of potatoes (Gall.3 c.1867; Kcb.1 1934; Kcb.9, Kcb.10 1940). Also shuin, shun (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Upp.Cld., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2:
To chun potatoes is, in turning them to prevent vegetation, to nip off the shoots which break out from what are called the een or eyes.
2. Of potatoes: to sprout (Kcb.4 1900; Kcb.9 1940; w.Dmf. 1899 J. Shaw Country Schoolmaster 339).
[Chun seems to have largely replaced the older chin; see P.L.D. § 58.1. For sh forms, cf. a similar change from [tʃ] to [ʃ] in Chirnside (Bwk.), pron. Shirset, see P.L.D. § 92. Chin comes from O.E. cine, cinu, a fissure, from ablaut form cin- of O.E. cīnan, to gape or crack; Mod.Eng. chink and obs. or dial. chine, id.; Goth. uskeinan, to sprout out, Mod.Ger. keim, germ, and keimen, v. Chun is found also in Cum. dial. (E.D.D.), and cf. chime, Pem., to break off the second growth of potatoes (E.D.D. Suppl.).]
