Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FRIEND, n., v. Also Sc. forms: frien, frein(d), freen(d). Derivs. in -less, -ly, -ship, etc., and also freinsom, friendly (Lnl. 1836 J. Dunlop Poems 58). See P.L.D. §§ 41, 64 and D., 2. [fri:n(d)]

Sc. forms of Eng. friend.m.Sc. 1979 Ian Bowman in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 41:
An' when they come shaughlin' doon ma lobby
they'll get a shog frae ma frien', the bobby.em.Sc. 1988 James Robertson Chapman 52 71:
Syne they luikit doun at their frien, wha hadna sae muckle as smiled aa the while, and he juist goaved at the Frith ...wm.Sc. 1991 Carol Galbraith in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 73:
Lachen amang freens
I turnt owrequikem.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 124:
'Ma faither's freen James Guthrie, that suffered at the Restoration, I saw him killt. ... '

Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. A relative, a blood-relation, a kinsman. Gen.Sc. Also attrib. Sc. forms of Eng. friend.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 103:
Friends agree best at a distance. By Friends here is meant relations, and they agree best when their Interest does not interfere.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 156:
If any of the parties [to a R.C. — Protestant marriage] died, if the survivor did not keep up to the articles, and the freinds complained to the magistrate, they called for the contract, and ordered it to be fulfilled.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xliii.:
Falling heir to a friend that left him a property, he retired from business.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb x.:
But's wife's freens raive a heap o't aff o' 'im fan he wus livin', an' manag't to get the muckle feck o' fut wus leeft fan he wore awa.Slk. 1892 W. M. Adamson Betty Blether 89:
A young lassie — a far-awa' freend o' John's that was here frae Glesca.Fif. 1896 D. S. Meldrum Grey Mantle 244:
He had but ae freend leevin' then: a cuisin that married Sandy Broun in Balwhinnie.Per. 1910 W. Blair Kildermoch 107:
Hoosomever, I'm weel content to ha'e a freen body to guide me as lang's I'm spaired.m.Sc. 1924 “O. Douglas” Pink Sugar xiv.:
Ay, they tell me ye have bairns in the hoose. They'll be freends — relations?Sc. 1935 D. Rorie Lum Hat 38:
But the far-awa freen that served her heir Was slain in a tuilzie at Lowrin Fair.Sc. 1995 David Purves Hert's Bluid 7:
For aw that, A daursay ye'r a kynd
o ferr cuisin an we gang back a lang tyme.
Sae you an me is freins in a wey;
no that A'd mukkil lyke ti clap ye!

Phr.: to be friends to (with), to be related to (ne.Sc. 1953) with sing. as well as pl. subj.Fif. 1894 D. S. Meldrum Margrédel xvii.:
Maybe you're some friends to the fowk at Eden Braes?Uls. 1924 Northern Whig (16 Jan.):
To say “you are not friends” with a person, means you are not related to them.

2. A creditor.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 156:
The apparently prosperous provision-merchant called his friends together, as a meeting of creditors in Paisley is denominated.Ib. 158:
Your ain pouches were poorly enough plenished no mony year back. . . . Ye ance stood forenent your friends as I'm doing this day.

‡II. v. To befriend. Arch. or poet. in Eng.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxvi.:
He's been weel friended wi' the Argyle family.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 166:
Yon dampnit Papish chiel Is friendit by man's fae the de'il.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie viii.:
Nor ane around a word daur say Nor move a peg to' freen' them.