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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FANG, n.², v.² Also faang; fjang (Mry. 1916 T.S.D.C. II). n.Sc. form of Whang, n.¹ See P.L.D. §§ 122, 134.

I. n. 1. A thong, strip of leather (Abd.⁶ 1913); the leather hinge of a flail (Abd. 1916 T.S.D.C. II); a whip-thong (Cai. 1950). Also fig. of a tall, thin person.Abd.⁴ 1928:
A lang fang o' a chiel.

2. A large piece of anything, usu. of food, and esp. of cheese; a chunk (Bnff., Abd. 1950). Phrs.: the hin fang, the heel or end-crust of a loaf (Abd.²⁷ 1951); †the knave's fang, see 1888 quot.Abd. c.1750 R. Forbes Jnl. from London (1755) 2:
An honester fellow never . . . cuttit a fang frae a kebback.Abd. 1888 in J. G. Frazer Golden Bough (1922) V. I. 158:
The first slice is larger than the rest; it is known by the name of “the kanave's [sic] faang”, — the young man's big slice — and is generally the share of the herd-boy.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 9:
Aw got a great fang o' tobaacco wi' 'er.

3. Fig.: a lout, scamp, a disagreeable person (Bnff., Abd. 1950), gen. with some pejorative adj. Also extended form ‡fangshal (Mry.¹ 1916; Abd.¹⁵ 1928).Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxv.:
It wud set 'im better to bide at hame, and luik aifter that sweer fangs o' servan' chiels o' his.Abd. 1900 G. Williams Fairmer's Twa Tint Laddies 113–114:
But noo this orra fang turns up, An' ye get up a spree.Abd. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (9 Jan.):
It's o' a mannie “Kempie”, wha's an ill-tongued fang, For he rages like a deevil in the mornin'.

II. v. With in: to eat greedily and in great gulps.Abd.²⁷ 1950:
Stop fangin in tae ye that wye.Abd. 1993:
He can fair fang in.