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: 1880-1929
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BENLIN, BENLEEN, n.1 "A stone (oblong) which hung in the loop of the straw or heather 'simmons' (rope) to secure the thatch of a house or stack" (Cai.3 1931). [′bɛnlɪn Ork.; Cai. + ′bɛnlin]Ork. 1929 Marw.:
In building a stack — "Are thoo up tae the b[enlins] yet?"Cai. 1915 "B" in John o' Groat Jnl. (25 June):
A divot reef, thacked owre wi' care, wi' benleens slung across, The simmons were o' heather spun, the thackin' was o' floss.
Comb.: benlin-steen, id.Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 18:
De benlin' steens fell oot, an' de aesin' flags [eaves] fell in; an' the fleurs o' the lafts o' the ha' hoose teuk fire.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Benlin-steen, a stone, one of a row lying on the roof of a house above the "wa'-plates"; the "simmons" or straw ropes used in thatching are attached to these stones.
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"Benlin n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/benlin_n1>
