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: 1769-1864
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INLYING, vbl.n., ppl.adj.
I. vbl.n. Of a mother: a lying in, confinement (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ork., Cai., Bnff., Ags., Lnk., Dmf., Rxb. 1958).Sc. 1769 A. Carlyle Autobiog. (1860) 529:
Mrs C. having recovered from her late inlying.Sc. 1819 Scots Mag. (March) 219:
The many absurd, and sometimes unseemly, ceremonies which were practised by the "canny wives" and gossips, when attending at "inlyings" or accouchments.
II. ppl.adj. 1. Of farm animals: kept under cover or in fields near the farm (Cai. 1958).Kcb. 1828 W. McDowall Poems 81:
While kye and ilk in-lying beast, Are cozie in their cells at rest.
2. Of a woman: confined, in childbed (Ork., Cai., Abd., Ags., Fif., Dmf. 1958).Sc. 1864 A. Wallace Sc. Tales II. 29:
The whole company with the exception of the inlying wife began dancing.
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"Inlying vbl. n., ppl. adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/inlying>
