Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BANG, n.¹ 1. Used as in St.Eng. to mean a heavy, resounding blow; an attack, onslaught. A special Sc. meaning is an agonising throb of pain. Lit. and fig.Sc. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 188: 
The dinner done, for brandy strang They cry, to weet their thrapple, To gar the stamack bide the bang.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 110: 
The bit whaur fornicators sat, To bide their pastor's bang.Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 149:
Of tooth-ach fell, wi' gnawing pang, Nae longer couldst thou bide its bang.

Phrase: in or on a bang, (1) in haste; (2) in a huff.(1) Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 63:
I sud gang alang, An' syn be marri'd wi' him on a bang. [In later editions “in a bang.”]m.Lth. 1788 J. Macaulay Poems, etc. 186:
They think because our trade's turn'd thrang, To tak it frae us in a bang.Edb. 1811 H. MacNeill Bygane Times 35:
Mad at the taunt, he in a bang Flew to his bell and furious rang!(2) Abd. 1825 Jam.²:
In a bang, in a huff. [(2) gen. replaced by in a Bung, q.v.]

2. Energy, vigour. Cf. Bang, v.¹, 2. Ags. 1776 C. Keith Farmer's Ha' 17: 
As he was working lang and strang, And fallowing wi' pith and bang.Per. 1881 R. Ford Hum. Sc. Readings 18: 
John was a roadman steive an' strang, An' plied his craft wi' merry bang.