Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

†HOITINA, adj., n., int. Also hoit(t)ena, hoitana; hüitina (E.D.D.), -ena, hott(e)na; ho(i)ttin, hoyttin; hottni, hoitni (Jak.).

I. adj. Concluding, last (gen. of a series of outdoor tasks, such as in harvesting).Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
The completion of any kind of work, as “the hoyttin-geng o' peats.”Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
De ho(i)ttena trip, de hoittin gang, the concluding trip, esp. the last trip to the hill when bringing home the peats (when cut and dried) by pack-horse; hurro for my hoittin . . . gang! hurrah for my last trip! . . . de hoitna piece, the digging of the earth, esp. by spade: the last piece of ground (field) which has been dug. De ho(i)tni, the last one in the series, e.g. de ho(i)tni calf, the last calf of a cow.

II. n. The completion of a piece of work, the last of a series of actions, the end of anything, the finishing touch. Hence fig. a time of rest, peace.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (7 Aug.):
A'm düne no sae ill, bit dis will be hüitena wi' me dis year.Sh. 1898 Ib. (7 May):
Tanks ta Gud your koo hüvd oot her feet da last year. Dat wis hoitana. Da folk 'ill no loss der butter noo.Sh. 1902 E.D.D.:
The last load of peats when they are being brought from the hill, or the last of any heavy piece of work, is called “hoitena” in some parts, but it is not common everywhere in Shetland.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 123:
Yis, A'm wun hame, bit dis'll shürely be hoitina.

III. int. A shout of joy given to celebrate the completion of a heavy task, such as the carting of peats (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Also ho(i)ttena horn (Ib.).