Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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WINNOW, v. Also Sc. forms winno-; winnie (Bnff. 1918 .J. Mitchell Bydand 16), winny (ne.Sc. 1909 G. Greig Folk-Song xvi. 2, ne.Sc. 1974); windo(w)-, windoo (I.Sc. 1974). [′wɪnə; ne.Sc. ′wɪni]

Sc. phr., combs. and deriv.: 1. to winnow on one's ain cannas, to rely on one's own resources or efforts (Abd. 1930). See Cannas, n., 2.; 2. winnow-claith, a winnowing-sheet on which corn was winnowed (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.); ‡3. windo(o)-cubbie, -kubby, a basket for holding the grain about to be scattered for winnowing (Ork. 1974); 4. winnowing corn, a procedure, used in Halloween rites of divination, of going through the motions of winnowing corn in a barn, when one's future spouse was supposed to appear (ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 85). Cf. Burns Halloween xxi.; 5. winnowster, -ester, -ister, a barn fanner, a machine for winnowing corn (Abd. 1825 Jam., Abd. 1855 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 727; ne.Sc. 1974), the fanning apparatus on a threshing-machine (ne.Sc. 1974); fig. a “windbag”, a braggart, boastful person (Abd. 1931).2. Lnk. 1827 J. Watt Poems 41:
An' lest the braw horse should get skaith, Tam haps him wi' the winnow-claith.3. Ork. 1905 Orcadian Papers (Charleson) 39:
There were the windo cubbie, from which the corn was gently dropped while being winnowed.Ork. 1970 Abd. Press & Jnl. (26 Aug.):
The windo' or winnowing cubbie for instance, was used to pour out the corn gently on the barn floor, while the wind blowing in at one door and out at the other carried away the chaff.5. Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. v.:
The winnister wis coontit a very handy thing in yon day though it only blew oot the caff and the cuffins or pens as they were ca'd.Abd. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (8 May) 10:
The wirds cam' spewin' oot o' 'im like c'aff at the tail o' a winnister.