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.
†GOAN, n. Also gone. A wooden bowl or dish, “the wooden dish employed for holding a workman's porridge” (Gall. 1825 Jam.); a “strong wooden vessel bound with hoop iron to hold the staves forming the sides in position” (w.Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 70). Hence goanfu', a bowlful.Sc. 1716 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 72:
On them stood mony a Goan, Some fill'd wi' Brachan, some wi' Kail, And Milk het frae the Loan.Dmf. 1810 R. H. Cromek Remains 289:
A goan of new milk was a bribe for the byre.Dmf. 1830 W. Bennet Traits Sc. Life III. 74:
Dinna meddle wi' that goanfu' o' porridge, I beseech ye.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 248:
There's lang-kail rowth served up in goans.Kcb. 1897 66th Report Brit. Ass. 485:
The porridge was always made the night before in a big boiler, and poured into small wooden tubs called ‘gones'. These ‘gones' were then covered up with the grain sack, to keep the porridge warm.
