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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KEENFISH, n. Also kinn-fish. The flesh obtained from the head of a fish (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), kinn-, 1914 Angus Gl.). [′kin-, ′kɪn-]Sh. 1882 Gentleman's Mag. CCLII. 471:
The “kinn-fish”, that is, the cheek-flesh, of the turbot is never eaten, but always cut out raw . . . It is a peculiarity, and never observed in the case of other fish.

[Norw. dial. kinnfisk, cheek-flesh of fish or human beings; O.N. kinnfiskar, the flesh on the cheeks (of a man), from kinn, cheek, + fiskr, the flesh of a fish.]

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