Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1724-1727, 1835-1840
[0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
EARN, ERN, v. To (cause to) coagulate, to curdle (milk) by adding rennet and applying heat (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot.; Ags.2 1942; Ags.18 1949, ern). See also Yirn, v.1, id. [ern Sc., Ags. + ɪrn]Sc. 1724–7 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) I. 86:
Since nathing's awa', as we can learn. The kirn's to kirn, and milk to earn.s.Sc. 1835–40 J. M. Wilson (ed.) Tales of the Borders V. 90:
I hae . . . the butter to mak, an' the bed to mak, and the milk to 'earn.
Hence ernt (irnt) mulk, curds (Ags.18 1949).
[O.Sc. has yyrne, id., a.1568 (see Yirn, v.1); cf. Mid.Eng. ernen, eornen, met. forms of rinnen, O.E. rinnan, to run, with pa.p. gerunnen, coagulated, curdled; geirnan, gerinnan, to coagulate.]
