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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.

UNSPEANED, ppl.adj. Also unspeant (ne., m.Sc.), oonspent (Sh. 1973). Unweaned. See Spean, v.Ags. 1818 G. Beattie Poems (1882) 186:
The liver of an unspean'd kitten.
Dmf. 1826 H. Duncan W. Douglas I. x.:
Skipping amang the rocks as gently as an unspeant lamb.
s.Sc. 1837 Wilson's Tales of the Borders III. 239:
Wi' nae mair pooer to earn a bite o' bread than the unspeaned bairn.

[O.Sc. unspaynit, c.1500.]

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