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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

GEING, Ging, n. Also geingo, ginggo gaingo, geenga. [′giŋ(-gɪ)]

1. Human excrement (Borders 1808 Jam., geing; Sc. 1818 Sawers, geing(o); Ayr. 1825 Jam., gaingo, Ayr.4 1928, geenga; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., ging (-dirt); ‡Slg., ‡Edb. 1954); dirt, mud (Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton, Gl., ging). Also used fig. of intoxicating liquor (Ags. 1808 Jam.). Hence gingie, adj., filthy (Edb. 1910 Scotsman (3 Sept.)).Edb. 1845 F. W. Bedford Hist. G. Heriot's Hospital (1859) 346:
M'Lellan would like to gang, but he has a kell, and he is a real gingie chield.

2. A confused mass (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 62).

3. Nonsense, rubbish.Ib.:
Ye niver hard sic ginggo's he spack.

[O.E. genge, drain, latrine, privy. The dissyllabic variants phs. represent a child's reduplicative forms.]

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