Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
KENNAWHAT, n. Also kennafat (ne.Sc.), ken-na-whit. A nondescript, a something-or-other (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Ayr. 1836 Galt in Tait's Mag. (July) 462; I.Sc., ne.Sc. 1959).Ayr. 1826 Galt Lairds xix.:
But it's beneath me to discompose mysell for sik a clash-clecking clypen kennawhat.Bnff.2 1942:
That's richt hotch-potch; kennafat's nae in't.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 33:
He cried oot eftir me
ither an aith or a blissin.
Ma tackets duntit the causey as I ran
awa, awa frae a kennawhat in his een. Sc. 1993 J. Derrick McClure in A. L. Kennedy and Hamish Whyte New Writing Scotland 11: The Ghost of Liberace 59:
a ken-na-whit wes there
haudin our howp tae its course
