Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

DEEN, Dien, Dine, Dein, v. To suit, to fit; to befit. [din]Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Fu dus dis hat deen me?Ork. 1929 Marw.:
It wad deen thee better to bide heem.

Vbl.n. deenin, deenan, deenen, etc.: 1. “that which is requisite” (Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. (1922) 150); “necessary equipment — e.g. of a fisherman's material” (Ork. 1929 Marw.); 2. a sufficiency of food; a full meal (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., deenin, 1914 Angus Gl., deenen; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Ork., w.Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶, dinen, deinen); hence phr.: to get one's dienen, to be well served (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).1. Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 35:
An I wad like tae ken gin I ha'e a' me deenin'.2. Ork. 1908 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 323:
Am dootan he's no haen 'is deenan dis lang while noo, sae I boucht a bit o' mate an' a drap o' the crater fae the van da streen.