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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HUND, n., v. Also hun(n) (Rnf. 1777 J. Glen Antiburgher Presentor Detected 13; Dmf. 1829 W. Caesar Jaunt 13; Abd. 1909 J. Tennant Jeannie Jaffray 88); hunnd (Sc. 1712 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) II. 132); hoon(d) (Mry.¹ 1925, hoon; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein, Rxb. 1942 Zai); houn (Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 220; Sc. 1829 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1863) II. 41); hunnie (Kcd.); hond(i), hønd(i) (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Sc. forms of Eng. hound, n. and v. (Sc. 1740 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) II. 135; Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Cal. (1874) i.; Ags. 1906–11 Rymour Club Misc. I. 47; Knr. 1925 H. Haliburton Horace 138). [Sc. hʌn(d), hun(d); also, after Eng., hʌun Sh., Ayr., Dmf.]

Sc. usages:

I. n. A dog in gen. (Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 19, hunn; Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 152). Gen.Sc. Also fig. a coarse boorish fellow, a mean, selfish person (Abd. 1975, a greedy hun). Sh. 1897 Shetland News (24 July):
He's clappid on yon üseless hund o' his apon his black hug.

Combs.: 1. earth hun, see Erd; 2. Hun-dog, a dog used for hunting, esp. of the lurcher type (Cai., ne.Sc. 1957); 3. hun-fish, a houndfish, a name given to a species of small shark or dogfish; 4. hund-hunger, the ravenous appetite of a dog or hound (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.). Adj. comb. hund-hungry, as ravenous as a dog (Ib.); 5. hounds and horses, a boys' game; 6. hound's tongue, wound wort, Stachys palustris (Mry. 1839 G. Gordon Flora Mry. 19, Mry.¹ 1925).3. Crm. 1829 H. Miller Herring Fishing 38:
The . . . hun-fish . . . a voracious formidable animal of the shark species, frequently makes great havock among the tackle with which cod and haddock are caught.5. Lnk. 1920 G. A. H. Douglas Further Adventures Rab Hewison 109:
Wi' lichtsome glee we played at "tig" Or "hoonds an' horses" in the den.

II. v. 1. To chase, pursue, as by a dog (Kcd. 1957, hunnie). Also fig. and in curling: to urge a stone on by sweeping.Dmf. 1778 Burnbrae Papers MSS.:
Farther doun the stream little Robin with his gallant companions managed their besoms and hunned hard to the utter confusion of their adversaries.Dmf. 1874 R. Reid Moorland Rhymes 20:
The mawkin, houn'd wi' fear, Gaed like a glouf the bracken through.

2. In working a sheepdog: to send a dog out round stock to gather them in (Dmf. 1957); with away, to drive sheep away from the shepherd while he stands still (Ib.).

3. Of a male dog: to run about from place to place after females (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add., hun; Abd., Lnk. 1957).

†4. Phrs.: (1) to hund mischief, to incite someone else to do mischief without being involved oneself (Rxb. 1825 Jam.); (2) to h(o)und out, to encourage or instigate wrong-doing (Sc. Ib.). Hence hounding out, instigation [hound out, in O.Sc. from 1581, hounding-out from 1587].(2) Sc. 1797 D. Hume Punishment of Crimes I. 435:
Perhaps it is with reference to this sort of counsel, concilium cum ope, that some of those authorities are to be understood, which speak of instigation, (or hounding out as it is termed with us), as amounting to art and part.