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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BRAIN, adj. Mad, enraged, furious. Known to Fif.10 c.1895.Sc. 1904 Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet in Ballads (ed. Child) No. 66A xxviii.:
There was no pity for that two lords, Where they were lying slain; But all was for her Lady Maisery In that bower she gaed brain.
Abd.(D) 1788 J. Skinner Christmass Bawing xxiv. in Caled. Mag. 503:
He was his ain hauf-brither, I wat my sell he was fou' brain, And how cou'd he be ither?
Abd. 1925 Greig and Keith Last Leaves 209:
An' he's awa to his lady As fast as he could gang, But when he went to his lady, She was like to gang brain.

[Brain found in O.Sc. as adj. and adv., meaning furious, furiously, phs. a shortening for brain-wode (D.O.S.T.).]

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"Brain adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/brain_adj>

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