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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SYND, v., n. Also s(e)ind(e), synde; syn(e), synn, sine (Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 14), sign. [səin(d). See D, letter, 2.]

I. v. 1. tr., now freq. with out: to rinse (a vessel, etc.) in some liquid, to swill, wash out (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Rs. 1929; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Cai., m. and s.Sc. 1972). Also fig. to wash out the throat by drinking. The construction in 1803 quot. is somewhat irreg. Vbl.n. syndins, rinsings, slops, swill.Sc. 1752 Scotland's Glory (1842) 77:
A cup of beer goes round at first, Their thirsty throats for synding.Sc. 1765 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 579:
She first synded the bowl with some water.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 211:
[To] syn his whistle wi' the clear champaign.Sc. 1803 The Earl of Errol in Child Ballads No. 231. E. x.:
She has taen the glass into her hand, She has signd it to her dorty lips.Sc. 1824 Scott St Ronan's W. ii.:
The bits of vinegar cruets are put awa into an awmry, and ilk ane wi' the bit dribbles of syndings in it.Ags. 1890 Brechin Advert. (23 Dec.) 3:
As broon's the sindins o' the teapot.Lnk. 1868 J. Hamilton Poems 221:
The milky syn'ins o' the kirn.Gsw. 1904 H. Foulis Erchie xvi.:
You syne oot the dishes and I'll dry them.Bwk. 1943 W. L. Ferguson Vignettes 65:
A red-nebbit hussy slinks by i' the glaur To sind oot her thrapple yince mair.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iv.:
See an' sine oot yer timmer trochie noo.Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 34:
Ye'd think they'd sine oot the plates afore dishin up yer dinner. They should rinse the plates before serving our meal on them. Sc. 1999 Edinburgh Evening News 28 May 35:
...tripe and buffed haddock, 'syned doon' with a tankard of reeming ale, all of which cost no more than fivepence, including a halfpenny to the serving lass".

2. tr. To wash (the face, clothes, etc.), to give a quick swill to (an object) by drawing it through water (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai., m. and s.Sc. 1972); specif. of washing herring after gutting them (Abd. 1936). Sometimes used with up (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 186:
Wi' new kam'd wig, weel syndet face.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 148:
A lass there sinding out her duds.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 91:
Here Tam, wi' Bess comes skelpin on, Wi' han's an' face weel synit.Slk. 1810 Hogg Tales (1874) 74:
Wait till I sinde up the sarks.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 70:
Jean gaed to the green, to her freathin' and synin'.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Stickit Minister 146:
Betty synes hersel an' gangs ben.Inv. 1905 J. Fraser Reminiscences 139:
The army of maidens are rinsing or “syning” the clothes.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 18:
That wumman's claes ir no haaf seindeet.wm.Sc. 1937 W. Hutcheson Chota Chants 2:
The dang a' done, the bothie redd, And face and fingers synd.

3. To drip away, strain off (Ork. 1929 Marw., sine).

4. To wash (food) down with drink, to swill (something) away or out with water, drink, etc. (Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 153; m. and s.Sc. 1972).Ayr. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 107:
An, aft I yocket wi' the lasses, An, syn'd the spark out o' their hawses.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 83:
Lat gusty gabs chew the wheat bread, And synd it down wi' claret red.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xliv.:
To synd it down with usquebaugh.s.Sc. 1859 Bards of Border (Watson) 105:
The lappert milk he got His vyttles owre to synd.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxvi.:
Mashlie-bannocks an' sweet-milk cheese, wi' a dish o' tea to synd them ower wi'.Dmf. 1905 J. L. Waugh Thornhill 26:
An extra plateful of broth was supped in spoonfuls with the beef and potatoes, in order to sine the latter down.Lnk. 1923 G. Rae Langsyne in Braefoot xii.:
Jist a moothfu' tae synd oot the auld 'ear.

II. n. A washing or rinsing out, a swill, a hasty or perfunctory wash (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 264; Cai., m. and s.Sc. 1972); fig. a drink, esp. when taken with solid food.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 137:
A heartsome meltith, and refreshing synd O' nappy liquor, o'er a bleezing fire.Sc. 1870 A. Hislop Proverbs 15:
A clean synd's better than a dirty dry.Ags. 1892 Arbroath Guide (12 Nov.) 3:
I gae my face a synde.Kcb. 1899 Crockett Kit Kennedy viii.:
Giein' a pot a bit syne wi' a jaw o' water.m.Sc. 1920 O. Douglas Penny Plain xi.:
It seems more natural somehow to give it a synd down than to wait to drink till your mouth's empty.Bnff. 1937 E. S. Rae Light in the Window 48:
She'll manage fine to gie your blankets a sye [sic] throu'.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick ii.:
Eppie had given it a ‘sine oot' into the ‘jaa-hole.'