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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.

STUN, n., v.

I. n. A loud stupefying noise, a din.Sc. 1727 J. Thomson Summer 488:
I stray, regardless whither; till the stun Of a near fall of water every sense Wakes from the charm of thought. [later edd. read sound.]

II. v. Deriv. stunner, a big, clumsy, stupid fellow.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 441:
A stunner o' a gowk — a mighty fool.

[The meanings suggest that the word is a variant of Stound, v.2, n.2, rather than extended usages of the cogn. Eng. stun. Cf. esp. Stound, n.2, 2. and 3.]

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