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.
EENY, EENIE, adj. Having the appearance of eyes. [′i:ni]
1. Of coal: having bright round spots like eyes on its laminated surfaces (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 26, eenie; 1944 (per Edb.6)).
2. Of milk: rancid and therefore full of een or blobs of fat (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., eeny, obsol.). Also applied to fatty broth.s.Sc. c.1830 T. Wilkie in Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club XXIII. 82:
What she [cow] gives has the appearance of being rancid, and is called by dairy-women “eeny,” which is unfit for making into butter.Fif.10 1942:
Braw het eeny kail the day, John.