Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SQUINT, v., n., adj. Also squaint (Per. 1714 R. Smith Poems 38), squent (Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert i.; Mry. c.1929), squunt; swaint, swint. Deriv. squintard, a squint-eyed person (Kcb. 1902 Crockett Dark o' the Moon v.). Sc. forms and usages:

I. v. Fig. in phr. to squint aff a tale, to say anything that comes to mind thoughtlessly and without due concern for the wellbeing of the hearer.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 68:
A frammit tongue will squint aff ony tale; But little dread, a mither counsels well.

II. n. An angle, slanting position, inclination (see quot.).Ork. 1903 G. Marwick Old Roman Plough (1936) 8:
The angularity is got by again referring to the garbic o' de stimmack, namely, stick the finger of the right hand into the garbic or pit of the stomach, bring the arm to a level, the angle or “swaint” of the markal pin is now shown by the tirl (angle) at the elbow.

III. adj. Also squinty. Off the straight, set at a slant, awry, oblique. In Eng. now only of the eyes. Also adv. Gen.Sc. Comb. a squunt-wise, sideways, obliquely [a = on].Fif. 1703 E. Henderson Dunfermline (1879) 304:
One squint cutt on one of the hinder legs.w.Lth. 1768 W. Wilkie Fables 118–20:
A Partan creepin on a lee, . . . A squunt-wise wambling.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 5:
He hunkled himsell, for his cott wis geen swint.Abd. 1971:
Fess 't this wey a bittie. It's aa squint.Gsw. 1995 Alan Spence Stone Garden (1997) 67:
I took a last look at my reflection in the squinty mirror.
'Right,' I said. Sc. 2004 Evening Times 2 Nov 10:
I was pleased to see that work is finally going to start on Glasgow's "squinty" bridge. Edb. 2004:
That picture is hung aw squinty.