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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CORN, v. and n. Sc. usages.

I. v. 1. To feed (a horse) with oats (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹, Fif.¹⁰, Arg.¹, Lnk.³ 1937). Also to feed poultry (ne.Sc., Ags. 1975). Also found in n.Eng. dial. (E.D.D.). Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxvi.:
He roared to Mattie to . . . see that his beast be corned, and a' his riding gear in order.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin vii.:
The cuddy [was] unable to walk fast . . . frae takin' ower menseless a wame-fu' o' Luckie Paunch's fodder, for they had corned the cuddy as weel as themsel's.Ayr. 1786 Burns To Auld Mare ix.: 
When thou was corn't, an' I was mellow.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage, etc. 69:
In the village of Monkton they halted to “corn their naig,” at a neat looking inn.Slk. 1818 Hogg Brownie of Bodsbeck, etc. II. 202:
If ye corn an auld glide-aver weel, she'll soon turn about her heels, and fling i' your face.

2. Transferred to human beings in phrases: (1) cornin(g) time, meal-time (Ags.² 1937; Edb.⁶ 1943, obsol.), “piece-time”; (2) waur to water than (to) corn, applied to a person addicted to drink (Ags.⁹ 1927; Edb.³ 1929; Lnk.³, Kcb.⁹ 1937).(1) em.Sc. 1920 J. Black Airtin' Hame 101:
At cornin' time, wi' baps and ale, The steam was raised for afternune.Hdg. 1887 P. M'Neill Blawearie x.:
That day at “corning” time, down went instructions.(2) Per. 1835 J. Monteath Dunblane Traditions 86:
Bilzy Young died about 1800 — “waur to water than corn” till the last.

Also intr., to take food. Vbl.n. cornin, feeding. Used transf. in a sexual sense in 1718 quot., and = chastisement, drubbing in 1773 quot. Cf. Corn, n.¹, 8. Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 76: 
Steen . . . speer'd gin the Bride had ta'en the Test, And how she loo'd her Corning.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 185: 
Gie o'er, young man, you'll meet your corning, Than caption war, or charge of horning.Gsw.1842 Children in Mines Report (2) 356: 
The pit-head man cried down "Corning", and then the engine stopped and gave time for eating from 9 to 10.Lnk.1880 Clydesdale Readings (Short) 151: 
Feeling' desperate yawpish, I proposed we should corn, which bein' agreed tae, aff we mairched tae a hotel.

3. Ppl.adj. (1) exhilarated with intoxicants (Sc. 1825 Jam.²; Bnff.² 1937); (2) pleased.(1) Bnff.² 1943:
Jeems cam' hame fae the roup braw weel corn't.(2) Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
He's corn'd wi' his-sel.