Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OWN, v. Also oun (Lnk. 1899 H. Muir Hamely Echoes 105). For Sc. forms see Awn. Hence ouner (Lnk. 1890 H. Muir Rutherglen 45). Gen.Sc. usage, now only dial. in Eng.: to acknowledge as a relation or acquaintance, to give recognition to, to deign to be associated with, to have to do with, attend to, look after, come into contact with, to lay claim to (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Also own wi', id. In 1886 quot. as applied to a curling-stone the meaning is “do not sweep the ice before the stone. Leave it alone” (Kcb. 1964). [ʌun]Ayr. 1786 Burns Author's Earnest Cry xiv.:
Monie ithers, Whom auld Demosthenes or Tully Might own for brithers.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 95:
Baith own'd the hive, tho' it was thought To neither to belang.Ags. 1827 Justiciary Reports (1829) 95:
Witness: “Had they (meaning the family) been owning her (attending to her) a' that day?” — Deceased: “Rather so, weel.”m.Lth. 1870 J. Lauder Warblings 63:
Are ye a true-born Scot, and mourn? I oughtna e'en to own ye.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 79:
I'm herty, hale, an' ruddy, . . . Own'd at market, mill, an' smiddy.Sc. 1886–7 Royal Caled. Curling Club Annual 348:
She's weel laid doon, oh never own 'im, A fair pat-lid.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xliv.:
I aye jaloosed it was the Maxwells, but they never wad own wi' it.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 201:
Aw wid aye like to . . . hae a fyow bawbees ahin' the han' fin aw turn nae able t'own masel'.Abd. 1959:
Though he wis ma ain I widna own 'im. I widna own a raggy sark like that.Rxb. 1964:
He was that fou that he cudna own himsel.