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.
FAINT, n. Sc. usages. A fainting fit, a swoon (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scotticisms 35). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1808 Scott Marmion iv. xvi.:
An image of the Saint, Who propp'd the virgin in her faint.
Hence adjs. †(1) faintie in phr. faintie grund, see quot. and cf. hungry-ground; ¶(2) faintive, inclined to faint, faintish; †(3) faintly, id.(1) Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
Faintie Grund, ground in the course of a journey or excursion, on which, when one passes over it, the superstitious believe it to be necessary to have a bit of bread in one's pocket, in order to prevent the person from fainting.(2) Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 187:
An' aye she tore her breast, an' than, Poor thing, poured out her mane, Sae faintive, sae plaintive.(3) Lnk. 1892 W. Ewing Poems 5:
For want of warmth she faintly grew.
