Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

DON, n.¹ Sc. extensions of Eng. don, an important person, a clever fellow.

1. “A favourite, an intimate friend” (Sc. 1808 Jam.); a lively, popular person (Abd.²⁷ 1949).Abd. 1900 E.D.D.:
Used at school of a boy who is a leading spirit, or great favourite. “Our Tom's jist the rarest don ye ever saw.”

2. The dux of a class.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton 169:
Do you mind when he got the lick on the lug fur trying to dodge frae douchie to don to get off wi' his turn in Billy's?

3. An early blue-skinned round variety of potato (Lth. 1855 H. Stephen Bk. of Farm I. 636).Ayr. 1840 Carrick Anthol. (Finlayson 1925) 226:
Buying Dons frae them neist winter. Fif. 1873 J. Wood Ceres Races 2:
Pork, Cabbage, Leeks, an' grawnd Blue-dons.