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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RANK, adj.2 1. Of a boat: top-heavy, liable to overturn, unstable (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1967).Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 22. 41:
He's takin' dis boat ower muckle in, shu'll be rank, ir ca' me a lear.Sh. 1957 J. Stewart Shet. Archaeology 24:
This made the boat so “rank” that it must always have been ballasted.

2. Brittle, fragile.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Rank iron, rank steel.

[In sense 1. ad. Norw., Du., Ger. rank, id.; in sense 2. appar. an aphetic form of Norw. dial. krank, weak, ill, brittle, easily bent or broken, phs. confused with O.Sc. rank, of steel, strong, durable, 1456. It is noteworthy that conversely in Eng. crank is reg. used in sense 1.]

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