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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.

FORENUIN, n. Also †foirnoon; forenune, -nün, -nin; foreneen, foraneen (ne.Sc.). See P.L.D. §§ 35, 128. Sc. forms of Eng. forenoon, in gen. Sc. usage where Eng. has “morning,” the distinction illustrated in the 1865 quot. below being still observed. It is noted that Boswell in his Life of Johnson changed forenoon to morning in later editions (see G. B. Hill's edition II. 283, note). Often attrib. with bite, bread, etc., or absol., of a mid-morning snack or drink (Abd., Fif., Rxb. 1953). [I. and m.Sc. ′for′nøn, -′nyn; ne.Sc. ′for(ə)′ni:n]Slg. 1702 Slg. Burgh Rec. (1889) 97:
Appointes James Dick, knock keiper, to ring the councill bell from hencefurth at nyne and twelve aclock each day in the foirnoon.Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 47:
To-morrow forenoon. To-morrow morning.Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
Forenoon-bread. A luncheon eaten by the peasantry, hinds, etc.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxiii.:
What wad ye think o' gettin' Jehu decoyed into the lateran the morn's forenune?w.Sc. 1865 A. Smith Summer in Skye (1936) 481:
The morning and forenoon wore away pleasantly.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlvi.:
Ye see we tint him there i' the foraneen.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 28:
This forenin', as I was layin' doon the feed tae the hens.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS.:
Lowse the horse at 10 and get a foraneen bite.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 80:
Da forenün 'ill be spent afore I get a eetim dune.Gsw. a.1930 Neil Munro Erchie & Jimmy Swan (1993) 325:
'It's aipples,' said Jimmy, roguishly. 'Aipples, and low-browed underground smoking-rooms in Gleska, and black coffee in the forenoon, and Yankee magazines called 'Success.' Kcd. 1932 Lewis Grassic Gibbon Sunset Song (1995) 19:
They'd hear Rob out in that coarse ground hard at work when they went to bed, the rest of Kinraddie, whistling away to himself as though it were nine o'clock in the forenoon and the sun shining bravely. Gsw. 1962 Bill McGhee Cut and Run 116:
Sometimes in the forenoons, Ben got up and sat around the house reading the war news in the daily papers, ... Fif. 1985 Christopher Rush A Twelvemonth and a Day 265:
No-one saw him go over the side, or understood what had happened. It was on a calm sea off Crail, a flood tide was running, and the body was recovered at Anstruther the following forenoon. Sh. 1988 Shetland Folk Book 8 41:
After a forenoon in prison Williamson agreed to take the oath. wm.Sc. 1990 John Byrne Your Cheatin' Heart 50:
You'll understand, of course, that I'm possibly not at my best first thing in the mornin' ... what guy is? 'Specially not after spendin' the night curled up like a kirby grip in my unfavourite armchair ... but I think I can promise you a forenoon of unparalleled ... Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 22:
Bit ae foreneen the win swang roun to the wast, ... Sth. 1996 Eddie Davies in Timothy Neat The Summer Walkers: Travelling People and Pearl-Fishers in the Highlands of Scotland 20:
Unlucky names. Unlucky things. ... Nor did we like to hear the name MacPhee, not in the forenoon - it was a jinx!