Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GREEANCE, n. 1. Concord, agreement (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Abd.27 1955).Rnf. 1828 Paisley Mag. 562:
Jean fuff'd at this, and so we just cam out as we gaed in. Ye may be sure there wasna muckle good 'greeance the rest of the day.
2. Specif.: the name given to a formal betrothal and its celebration amongst fisherfolk, when the wedding arrangements were made.ne.Sc. 1874 Gregor Echo Olden Time 126:
If the offer is accepted, a night is fixed when the two meet along with their friends, and the final arrangement is made. This meeting goes by the name of the beukin nicht, or the nicht o' the greeance.Kcd. 1901 Abd. Wkly. Free Press (9 Feb.):
The “Greeance,” the first of the various festivities incident to a fisher's bridal.
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"Greeance n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 22 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/greeance>