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.
SLAIN, n.1 Also slane. Sc. usages of Eng. pa.p. slain from slay.
1. One who has been slain, a murdered person. Now only hist. in Sc. Law phr. letters of slains, see Letter, n., 2. (19).Sc. 1730 W. Forbes Institutes II. 26:
Remissions are ordinarily granted without previous Letters of Slains.
2. The fungous disease, smut, which affects grain, blight (‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in n.Eng. dial., orig. as pa.p. = affected by blight.
