Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721, 1876, 1952
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FACIN, vbl.n. Sc. form and usages of Eng. facing.
1. Mining: that part of the mine which is being worked, the coal-face (Slg.3 1941).Edb. 1876 J. Smith Archie and Bess 78:
I wriggled up to the facin' where Tam was workin'.
2. Saddlery: the cloth covering of a cart-saddle or horse-collar (Abd.15 1880, Abd.27 1950).
3. Building: a moulding worked on the exposed edge of a timber; also an architrave (Sc. 1952 Builder (20 June) 942).
4. Combs.: (1) facin bar, in a lace factory, a bar on which the fabric is laid to be examined for defects (Ayr. 1951); (2) facing iron, a smoothing iron with a polished surface (Mry., Abd. 1952). Cf. Face, II. 1. (2) (b); †(3) facing-tools, drinking vessels, humorously so called because used by the Facers.(2) Abd. 1952 Abd. Press and Jnl. (21 Jan.):
A facing iron jumped off the shelf into a tray of dishes.(3) Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 29:
Her Boord, Fire-side, and Facing-tools Rax, Chandlers, Tangs, and Fire-shools.
