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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.

UNFRIEND, n. Also unfrien, unfreen(d). Dim. unfriendie. One who is not a friend, an enemy, chiefly Sc. in early use and revived in 19th c. by Scott. Also with of, to.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xv.:
He is a very unquiet neighbour to his un-friends.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxvii.:
We may fa' in wi' some o' his unfreends.s.Sc. 1837 Wilson's Tales of the Borders III. 407:
Mony a sair thocht has it gien me that we war unfreens when we parted.Bnff. 1862 R. Sim Legends Strathisla 59:
He kent o'er late that he was amang unfreens.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 8:
Matthew became a favourite with his former unfriends.Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xvii.:
I am no unfriend to plainness.Arg. 1896 N. Munro Lost Pibroch 253:
He had no unfriends that I ken of.Sc. 1931 J. Lorimer Red Sergeant xxxi.:
Ye hed but ae unfrien' left, that pushionous crittur, Mungo.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 17:
Tae ither side he'll turn an nixt
On his unfreens in judgment sit;
An open up the wee buiks whaur
Aw human sins are writ

Hence derivs. (1) unfriends, used adv. Of two or more people: on unfriendly terms, in a state of enmity. Phr. to be unfriends wi (Slk. 1973); (2) unfriendship, n., enmity, ill-will (Sh. 1973). Obs. or arch. in Eng.(1) Sc. 1931 I. Burnett The Ravens iii. vi.:
I would fain not part with you unfriends.(2) Sc. 1819 Scott Ivanhoe i.:
An act of unfriendship to my sovereign person.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xi.:
The auld unfriendship betwixt the twa houses.