Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†HEEN, n. “The hinder part of the share in a Scottish plough to which the feathers are united, being walled [welded] in a strong ring” (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 75). See Hain (Suppl.).
[Of unknown orig.; n.Eng. dial. has hean, the part of the plough which grips the land, haine (1730), the stilt of a plough (Abridgement of Specifications of Patents, Agric., Div. I. (1878) 6–7).]
