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.
MAUN, v.2 Also man(n); mand. [mɑn, mǫn]
1. Used absol., tr. or with inf. with to, till: to manage, to effect, to succeed (in) (Sc. 1818 Sawers; Ayr., Gall. 1962). Sometimes with ellipsis of v. of motion.Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 202:
Death's maunt at last to ding me owre.s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 350:
Rough Mars himsell cou'd never maun.Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
He'll no man't, spoken of any thing which, it is supposed, one cannot effect. “I'll ergh eneuch man't.” I'll hardly accomplish it.Kcd. 1849 W. Jamie Gleanings 25:
'Tis fifty simmers, a' but ane, Sin' first I man'd to stoit my lane.Gsw. 1863 J. Young Ingle Nook 68:
But Time and Care fu' brawly ken They haena maunt his back to ben'.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss Haggs xxx.:
The thought of his kindness made me like him better than I had manned to do for some time.Arg. 1914 J. M. Hay Gillespie i. iv.:
I'll mand, I think, wi' three hunner [£300].Gall. 1932 A. McCormick Galloway 91:
An' whut's waur nor that, few o' them ever maun oot again.
2. To master, overcome, control, to have or establish authority over (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 112); to issue commands in an imperious or authoritative manner, to “boss” (Sh. 1962). Ppl.adj. maunin, overbearing.Cld. 1825 Jam.:
Ye maunna maun me. She's an unco maunin wife; sho gars ilka body rin whan she cries Iss.Ayr. 1951 (B.B.C. programme):
Ye can maun a bull, whan ye canna maun a horse or a hizzie.
