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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PIANO, n. Also colloq. forms piana (Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. 28), pianna;  pian(n)y (Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 203; w.Sc. 1932 A. H. Charteries When Sc. Smiles 265), pianie; peanny (Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 168); pinanny (Sc. 1892 Stevenson Letters (1899) II. 256); piawno (Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1863) I. 354). Sc. forms and usages. [pi′ɑnə]

1. As in Eng., in combs. (1) piano machine, see quot. (Ayr. 1965); (2) piano puncher, the operator of a piano machine (Ayr. 1965).(1) Rnf. 1925 A. M. Stewart Paisley Shawl 18:
He [Jacquard] had already invented a simple little machine for punching these holes [in weaving patterns] called a piano machine, because the operator sat before it with the design on a frame where the music would be on a piano, and with his ten fingers he played upon the stops that controlled the punches, his foot and a treadle being the motive force . . . It is still in use at the present day.

2. Jocularly for a certain shape of loaf (see quot.).Sc. 1957 R. Sheppard & E. Newton Bread 144:
A slight brushing of fat between the surfaces of the last fold [of a Scottish French Loaf] enables the baker to produce a handsome upright loaf. Indeed it is known in some areas as a piano.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web iv:
Naebody, as far's I ken, telt Beethoven the pianie sud anely be eesed fur the twa midmaist octaves. Sae fit makks Doric ony different? w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 26:
Nae honky-tonk tune ti lichten the gloom.
Nae clue as the Toun Hall pianna
wis taen without trace an selt for a case
o whisky at twelve an a tanner.