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.
Quotation dates: 1914-1929
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HUN, n.1 Also hune, huin (Marw.), høn (Jak.), hoon. Gen. in pl. [hun, høn]
1. The projection at the top of a mast which prevents the shrouds from slipping and which is pierced by the hole through which the halyards run (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1957).Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. 65:
Nu, Jimi, du man hize him ta da huns.
2. The apex of a rafter at the ridge of a roof (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., hune, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1957). Gen. in pl. = the ridge.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Up, on the huins.
3. A wooden handle, esp. one attached to a lid (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); a door-handle (Ib.).
4. A Fair Isle fisherman's tabu-name for a gaff, a Huggie-staff (Sh. 1894 per Sh.12, hoon, 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[O.Sc. hune, a projection at the mast-head, from 1536; obs. Eng. hune and hound, id., Fr. hune, id., Icel. húnn, a handle, O.N. húnn, the knob at the mast-head.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hun n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hun_n1>
