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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WHIN, v.1, n.3 Also freq. form whinner and irreg. or corrupt forms whir(r). [hwɪn]

I. v. 1. To dry up, scorch, to harden (bread) by over-toasting (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., whir, 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw., whin(ner), whirr; Sh., Ork., 1974, whinner). Derivs. whinney, n., a dried-up, hardened piece of bread, cheese, etc. (Marw.), whinnery, dried-up, shrivelled, overtoasted (Ork. 1958).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Hid was a' whinned up.

2. To work in some hard rough material, as in ploughing hard dry ground (Ork. 1958, whinner).

II. n. See quot. and cf. 1. above.Ork. 1973 Orcadian (8 July):
Bere whin: bere bannock. “Hard whin” signifies a dried up bannock.

[Orig. obscure. Poss. an extended usage of Whin, n.1, sc. to make like a stone.]

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