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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STRIFFIN, n. Also striffan, -en, -phin (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.), streffan, -in, straiffan, -in. [′strɪfən; Cai. ′strɛf-]

1. A thin skin, membrane or film of anything (Dmf. 1894 Trans Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 156; Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; I.Sc., Cai. 1971); the inner skin or membrane of an egg (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 440; Uls. 1953 Traynor); a membrane growing over an animal's eye which has been irritated by chaff (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.); the placenta of animals, “of a cow, used for covering the mouths of bottles, etc.” (Sth. 1825 Jam., straiffin); any long, thin strip, of thread, cloth, wood (Cai. 1921 T.S.D.C., Cai. 1971). Also in Ir. and U.S. dial. Ppl.adj. striffened, covered by a membrane.Gsw. 1711 Uls. Jnl. Archaeol. IV. 120:
When that you find them [green plums] a little soft you will see a litle striffen on them. Take of that clean with your knife. . . . When the striffen is all off, put them in as much watter as will cover them well.Gsw. 1797 A. Brown Hist. Gsw. II. 265:
The grand substitute for glass was streffan, the envelope or covering of the quadruped in utero.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 397, 412:
Ha! low puir fallow now ye be Wi' striffan white drawn ower thy e'e . . . The twasome pied down on the cauld sneep snaw, Wi' the sorry hauf striffen'd ee.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 144:
Broath as thin as any striffin.Sh. 1836 Chambers's Jnl. (Dec.) 388:
The interior membrane, or, to speak in our own dialect, the black striffin, left in the lugs of the fish.Cai. 1956:
Hid wis only haudan by a straiffan.