Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

POWAN, n. Also powen, poan. A freshwater fish, Coregonus elupeoides, found in Scotland only in Loch Lomond and Loch Eck (Sc. 1808 Jam., 1896 N.B. Daily Mail (9 June) 5; Slg. 1903 E.D.D.; wm.Sc. 1966). [′pʌuən]Dmb. 1711 J. Chamberlayne Pres. State Scot. 74:
This Lake abounds with Fish of several sorts, and with one sort call'd Poans, and by some Pollacks, which is peculiar to this Lake, and very delicious to eat, being a kind of Eel.Sc. 1760 R. Pococke Tours (S.H.S.) 63:
Powens, which are a sort of white fish, a kind of fresh water herring, and not very good.Dmb. 1817 J. Walker Poems 111:
What shoals o' powans scatter'd wide.Dmb. 1932 H. Lamond Days & Ways 83:
The vendace is a survival from post-glacial times, like the . . . powan of Loch Lomond and Loch Eck.Sc. 2000 Herald (20 Jan) 10:
Powan, a protected species, gather each January to reproduce in shallow waters just off Drumkinnon Bay in Balloch. The breeding ground is a few metres away from the planned site for Lomond Shores. Sc. 2000 Herald (20 Jan) 10:
Powan, similar to herring but more closely related to salmon, is only found in one other location - Loch Eck in Argyll.