Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1773-1776, 1887-1922
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DAUNTON, Daunten, Danton, Dantan, v. To frighten, to subdue (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 160, danton); to discourage; "to cast down (in spirits)" (Edb.3 1929); known to Slg.3, Lnk.3 1940, daunten; to challenge, defy. Also found in n.Cy. dial. (E.D.D.).Sc. a.1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs (2nd ed.) II. 20:
Yet a' this shall never danton me, Sae lang's I keep my fancy free.Sc. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Merry Men ii.:
It's for the like o' them . . . folk daunton God to His face and burn in muckle hell.m.Sc. 1922 "O. Douglas" Ann and her Mother 20:
She never damped your enthusiasms. "Never daunton young folk," was one of her favourite sayings.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 3:
Sooner at Yule-day shall the birk be drest, . . . Before a tonguey woman's noisy plea Shou'd ever be a cause to dantan me.Kcb. 1911 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 43:
Gentle as she was, naething i' this warld nor the next cud hae dauntened her.
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"Daunton v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/daunton>
