Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
DERN, DEARN, v.2 Sc. forms of Eng. darn (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 81, dearn; Rxb. 1942 Zai). See P.L.D. § 56 and cf. Darn, v.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff ix.:
It wad be sorter like, if a wife, insteed o' gaddin' aboot wi' a slut frae Scuttlebrig, wud bide at hame and dern her brats' stockin's.Uls. 1898 A. M'Ilroy Auld Meetin'-Hoose Green 65:
She . . . works hard, Guid kens; thinkin' naethin' o' sittin' up a' nicht, washin' an' sterchin', an' bakin' an' dernin'.
