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.
PUND, n.3 Also pun, poind-, puind-, gen. in pl. forms pun(d)s, pounce, pones (Ork. 1887 Jam.). The name applied to a long wiry grass which grows on sand-dunes (Ork. 1929 Marw.), specif. the meadow soft-grass, Holcus lanatus (Ork. 1914 M. Spence Flora Orcad. 88, Ork. 1967), also as comb. Fussy-punds, q.v., puindy gress, id. (Ork. 1967). Comb. Scotch-punds, the false oat-grass, Avena fatua (Ork. 1953). Ppl.adj. punded, of crops: thin, stunted, poorly developed; derivs. poindy, of persons or animals: lean, thin, scraggy, meagre (Ork. 1929 Marw.); punyowy, id. of animals and crops (Ib.). [pʌn(d), pøn]Ork. 1806 P. Neill Tour 17:
Tethers and bridle-reins were wrought of long meadow-grasses, such as holcus lanatus, which grasses here receive the name of pounce, or puns.Ork. 1912 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 17, 18:
A pun with some branching strands was selected to begin to plait with and straws of bent added singly as required . . . Bent or puns, a stiff grass growing on sandy links.Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 15:
To save the cost of bent . . . [the farmer] wound a rope of punds and floss for a neck-band or craig-band as it was more commonly called.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Just a lock o' puir thin punded stuff.
