Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SEGGAN, n. Also -en, -in, -on, segan; sagan (Uls.); sheggan (Arg.). The wild iris, esp. Iris pseudacorus (Ayr. 1880 Jam., Uls. 1931 Northern Whig (5 Dec.) 13; Arg. (sheggan), Bte., Ayr. 1969); also, gen. with blue, the stinking iris, Iris foetidissima (Ayr. 1886 B. and H. 423). Also attrib. See Seg, n.1 [′sɛgən; Arg. ′ʃɛg-; Uls. ′sɑg-]Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 148:
The mountain daisie, an' the seggan blue.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 166:
Where he first learnt to swim, catch trouts, make seggon boats.Uls. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 27:
Fast fairies 'gain the storm did flap, . . . Wi' sagan yads bound 'tween their theighs.Wgt. 1880 G. Fraser Lowland Lore 164:
Ay, e'en her vera boots an' leggin's Were form'd exclusively o' seggins!Arg. 1882 Arg. Herald (3 June):
A muckle poultice o' sheggan ruts.Ayr. 1892 J. C. C. B. A. Boyd's Cracks 4:
The golden seggan growing in the marsh.Bte. 1922 J. Sillars McBrides i.:
I could see her clenched hands flutter like segans.wm.Sc. 1950 M. Hamilton Bull's Penny ix.:
Gib's nephew, that Davie and I used to sail seggan boats with.
