Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PANI, n. Also panee; panny. [′pɑnɪ]
1. Water (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., panny, Rxb. 1965); water in the form of rain (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., 1950 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 336). Orig. gipsy but also used by Sc. speakers.Watson:
A drink o' pani.Rxb. 1933 Border Mag. (April) 64:
“Panee,” meaning rain, also in everyday use in Yetholm, is pure Hindustani.
2. A sheet of water, a lake, loch.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
A dander roond the pani.
3. A water-hen (Rxb. 1965), short for comb. pani-hen, id. (Bwk. 1965).
[Gipsy pani, Hindi pani, panee, Sanskrit pānīya, water, liquid.]
