Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1901-1931
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ANAWIN, ANAWN, INAWIN, INAWN, v. pres.p., used only as complement of pred., sometimes with an obj. following. Owing; indebted; "continuing to owe" (see Kcb. quot.). — Jam.2 (for Lnk.) gives inawn as a pres. inf. and pres. indic.: "He inawns me ten pund" = He owes me ten pounds. This use recorded by Jam. appears now to be obs. [ɪ′nɑən, ə′nɑ:n]Gall.(D) 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 144:
The small trifle we're owing you. (Ay, an we'll be anawin him, A'm thinkin.)Gall. 1929 Gallovidian, Bauldy, etc. 83:
Oh, I cudna dae that, for your bill amounts to fowr-an'-six, and yer inawin' me ten-an'-six.Wgt. 1904 J. F. Cannon Recollections of Whithorn 26:
He's inaw'n me ninepence ha'penny.Kcb.1 1931:
Anawn is still used to express the idea of continuing to owe. E.g. "Ye're awn me five bob." "Aye, an' I'll be anawn ye't for a while yet."e.Dmf. 1917 (per Dmf.4):
Hei'z anawn ee sumthin.Uls. 1901 A. McIlroy, Letter in North. Whig (May 2):
They . . . micht leeve comfortable an' contented — be anawin tae naebudy, an' ie be pittin' by somethin' for ould age.
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