Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FACIN, vbl.n. Sc. form and usages of Eng. facing.

1. Mining: that part of the mine which is being worked, the coal-face (Slg.³ 1941).Edb. 1876 J. Smith Archie and Bess 78:
I wriggled up to the facin' where Tam was workin'.

2. Saddlery: the cloth covering of a cart-saddle or horse-collar (Abd.¹⁵ 1880, Abd.²⁷ 1950).

3. Building: a moulding worked on the exposed edge of a timber; also an architrave (Sc. 1952 Builder (20 June) 942).

4. Combs.: (1) facin bar, in a lace factory, a bar on which the fabric is laid to be examined for defects (Ayr. 1951); (2) facing iron, a smoothing iron with a polished surface (Mry., Abd. 1952). Cf. Face, II. 1. (2) (b); †(3) facing-tools, drinking vessels, humorously so called because used by the Facers.(2) Abd. 1952 Abd. Press and Jnl. (21 Jan.):
A facing iron jumped off the shelf into a tray of dishes.(3) Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 29:
Her Boord, Fire-side, and Facing-tools Rax, Chandlers, Tangs, and Fire-shools.