Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LIN, v., n.1 Also linn; lun (Sh. 1888 Edmondston and Saxby Home of a Naturalist 184). [lm]
I. v. 1. intr. (1) To rest, pause, sit down to rest, cease, desist (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc. 1961). Also in n.Eng. dial.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man I. 238:
He never linned till he had taen away every chicken that the wife had.Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 243:
He never lins till he stricks ane apa da back o' my skinjup.Kcb. a.1902 Gallovidian XV. 109:
Man's hope, just Pollo's son, Wha will wi' licht the airn age gar lun.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 143:
I niver lint fil I was düne wi' bindin', an' dan I set up, an' coontid what we hed shorn.
(2) Of bad weather, snow, rain, etc.: to abate, become milder or gentler, to cease (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., Sh. 1961); of the day: to decline, draw to a close.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He is linnin (op), the weather is mitigating, the storm is abating. De day is linin.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 120:
Dis shooer is aff, an hit's lint up a bit.
2. refl. or quasi-refl. To rest oneself, to take a “breather” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1961).Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Lass, will du no lin dee. Boy, lin di back a moment.Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 36. 16:
O fur a linnin o' wir backs Frae hentin stonns on Lödi.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 204:
Come in-by an' lin thee.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 46. 18:
I maks oot owre for da bus ta linn me a start afore we sood laeve.
3. tr. or refl. To recline, lean, bend the body (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.). Vbl.n. linen, a leaning, inclination (Ork. 1961).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 31:
An shu an a' thae folk aye hed a linen tae the auld wey.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 57:
An whaaron his hoop he linnd, Frae da ruf da strae is fleein I' da oobin winter wind.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 151:
Sibbie … luikid up at da butt laaft whaur dat cat wis geen, an' dan lint her doon ta tak' up da butter.
II. n. A lull (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., lun).
[O.Sc. lin (confused with Lean), to cease, 1644, O.N. linna, to cease, to abate, of a storm, O.E. linnan, to desist, run together, esp. in meaning 1., with Norw. lina, to lean.]
