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: 1900-1908
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DRENG, Dring, v. Also draeng. Often followed by at. [drɛŋ, drɪŋ]
1. To draw tight (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., draeng; 1908 Jak. (1928), dreng, dring; Sh.11 1949); to tug or pull.Sh. 1900 Sh. News (22 Dec.):
We dring his fower feet tagedder.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Dis knot is drengd at ower hard.Sh. 1908 J. M. E. Saxby in Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 228:
"To dreng" is to draw tightly on a rope, bringing it near to the breaking point. So a poor woman, almost crushed by the sin of son or husband, said pathetically, "He's drenging me hertstrings."
2. To strangle (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928), dring).
3. Fig. Gen. with at: (1) "to make it up after a quarrel or disagreement" (Jak.); (2) to recover (from an illness) (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., dreng).(2) Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He's dringin at (till) again.
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"Dreng v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dreng>
