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.
SINNA, n. Also sinni, -y; sunna. One of several kinds of seaside grasses, esp. fescue or manna (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970); also given as couch grass, Agropyron repens (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Combs. sinna-girse, the grasses, Festuca rubra or ovina, also Glyceria maritima (Sh. 1947 Sh. Folk Bk. (Tait) I. 85), sinna-peat, a fibrous peat full of sinna (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl. , 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1970). [′sɪnə]Sh. 1843 Zoologist I. 38:
The nest was lined with wool, feathers and “sinna”.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (10 Aug.):
“Hit's been raekin fir da banks girse?” “Yiss, Girzie, fir da sinna.”Sh. 1938 I. B. S. Holborn Foula 84:
He would bring sunna — a certain kind of coarse grass — from the Kame, and when it was dried would whip it up with salt and soot and Light itunder the cow's nose, meantime telling the trows to go away to the horses of Vaila and not trouble the Foula cows.
