Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GLANCE, GLENCE (Gall. a.1897 Rab Ringan's Plewman Cracks 26, 34, and see P.L.D. § 48.1.), GLAUNCE (Ags., Rxb. 2000s), v., n.
l. v. As in Eng., to shine, gleam. Sc. fig. use, of thought: to flash.Sc. 1824 S. E. Ferrier Inheritance III. xxxii.:
Now it glanced upon her, that in uncle Adam she beheld a relation of her own.m.Lth.1 1954:
It glanced on me a' at yince that Ah had forgotten tae gawn for the Scotsman.
Ppl.adj. in combs.: 1. glancin' blaick, boot-blacking (Abd.13 1910); †2. glancing-glass, “a glass used by children for reflecting the rays of the sun on any object” (Jam.2); also fig. of a vain person: a “show-off”.2. Sc. 1727 P. Walker Remark. Passages 95:
A glazing Glancing-glass, who loves to hear himself speak, and the World to notice him.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xii.:
Gazing, glancing-glasses they [advocates] are, fit only to fling the glaiks in folks een.
II. n. Sc. forms of Eng. glance, a brief look. Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 33:
An did ye see him lauch, or see him greet?
Or glisk the grue that glimmers in thon glaunceDmf. 2000 Betty Tindal Old Mortality 13:
His rig-out wis fenished aff wi a pair o' spentacles, bit as they'd been hard wrought for he only wore them when workin on his letterin, wi the clourer an kinsh. Ah grant that at first glence he micht hae lookit a wee bit donnert.
