Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
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.

UNFANKLE, v. To disentangle, unravel (Sh., Cai., m.Sc., Slk. 1973; Ags., Ayr. 2000s). Also fig. Also ppl.adj. See Fankle, v.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 113:
The auld fowk left now closer draw O' care their sauls unfankle.Ayr. 1897 W. G. Tarbet In Oor Kailyard 77:
They hadna unfankled in their hearts whit was guid and whit was bad.Dmf. 1912 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo 141:
Hoo yin's lines o' life are unfankled and laid strecht oot afore yin.Slk. 1937 Times (9 July) 19:
The standard floats to and fro at its entire length, “unfankled” as folk here would say.Sc. 1949 N. B. Morrison Winnowing Years i. i.:
So keep your ears unsnecked and your tongues unfankled.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 29:
Here's swecht, is't, this place no juist the choice
o the auld, the duin, arthritic wi sentiment?
It's closer noo, tho I canna yet
unfankle onie words. wm.Sc. 1991 James Russell Grant in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 56:
The eagle unfankles itself fae the horizon timmin a michty
screich Dundee 1996 Matthew Fitt Pure Radge 9:
the keeper hurls
his bow-hochd banes
intil ae lang unfankilt airch m.Sc. 1996 John Murray Aspen 9:
Whit fuel will man's wecht o deid compunnd,
whit screichs fae flames unfankle,
whitlike reek lowsed abuin
like sae mony rashie limbs
raxin fer air unfyled
at Belsen or Buchenwald, w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 43:
In quest o truth, each age wi proof,
unfankle mysteries,
that dwine awa th'archaic law,
o aa oor yisterd'ys.