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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

STRUNT, v.2, n.2 Also stront. [strʌnt]

I. v. To walk about in a stately or affected manner, to stalk, strut with a bouncing self-confident air (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork., Kcd., Fif., w.Lth., Ayr., Gall. 1971); “it is applied to a rutting cow, when she runs off to the male” (Gall. 1825 Jam.). Ppl.adj. strunting, swaggering (Cld. 1880 Jam.). Comb. ¶struntifers, jocularly, the legs (Per. 1921 T.S.D.C.).Ayr. 1786 Burns To a Louse i.:
I canna say but ye strunt rarely, Owre gauze and lace.
Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 50:
She cock'd her gaucy runt; An' to Strathfallan green Burn-brae Fu' nimbly she did strunt.
Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 266:
High were their hopes for food and cash And drink to keep them strunting.
Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 128:
I'm sorry that ye are so feel; As be entic'd by ony cheil, To stront an' gaze.
Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller ii.:
Syne toom their maut aboon their meal; An' strunt an' stuff their beaks wi' snuff.
Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 190:
They . . . think they're men o' muckle might — Pleas'd wi' the thought gae struntin'.
Edb. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's vi. 12:
He strunts aboot wi' an impident gab.
Abd. 1922 Banffshire Jnl. (28 Nov.) 2:
Fan he cam' struntin' back, she wis unco thrang ficherin' wi her shank.
wm.Sc. 1937 W. Hutcheson Chota Chants 2:
Struntin out by neighbour farms.

II. n. A haughty or dignified gait, a firm assured stride.Abd. 1928 Abd. Book-Lover VI. No. 1. 13:
Wi' 's roch rantin' tongue and his lyowderin' strunt.

[A nasalised variant of Eng. strut. See note to Strunt, n.1, v.1, and cf. Norw. dial. strunta, to go in a stiff, strained manner.]

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