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.
OON, n.1 Also on(n) (Jak.), won. [un, o:n]
1. The width of the swathe cut by a man with a hook in the harvest field (Ork. 1929 Marw.); the strip of ground reaped or dug by one worker (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964). Also in place-names in Sh. as Onn, Ons, Wons.Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. 114:
As in hay cutting, the tedium of the work was enlivened by “kemping”, and it was a great affront to be cut out of the face of the rig or “oon”, as the line of the swath was called.Ork. 1939 H. Marwick Merchant Lairds II. 10:
The whole body of shearers worked more or less abreast, or rather like a team of turnip-singlers today, and the width of their total “cuts” — the group swathe, so to speak — was termed the “oon.” The larger the number of “hooks” — the wider was the oon, and the fewer the oons necessary to finish a field.
2. A company of three shearing with hooks (Marw.).Ib.:
“Sic a lock o' folk's on the oon this night.” That must have meant that there was extra people helping. In reckoning the number of shearers necessary in harvest, they reckoned in oons, i.e. so many groups of three.
