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.
Quotation dates: 1864, 1920
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DOON FA'IN, vbl.n. = Eng. downfalling, in phr. at the doon fa'in, about to collapse.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS.:
The hooses wis in an awfu' bad state; jist at the doon fa'in, in fect.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xiii.:
I canna gang my lane, for I'm at the very doon-fa'in' wi' fricht!
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"Doon Fa'in vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/doon_fain>
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