Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HAIRIKEN, n. Also heerican (ne.Sc.). Sc. forms of Eng. hurricane. also used to mean a severe reproof, a “dressing down” (ne.Sc. 1956).Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man II. 80:
I wish the prince o' the air be nae fa'en a brewing some o' his hellish storms and hairikens on us.Abd.27 1920:
He'll get a richt heerican gin he set his fit ower this door again.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 26:
We
nivvir hid to flee demintit
Tull the pier-heid,
Nor harken tull the heerican at midnicht,
Caal wi dreid.
