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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

RIGLIN, n.1 Also rigglin(g), riglen; riglan(d); raglin (‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). A male animal with one testicle in the scrotum and the other undescended (Ork., n., em., sm. and s.Sc. 1968). Also of men. [′rɪglən]Abd. c.1782 Ellis E.E.P. V. 774:
Your fader wiz a riglin and your midder wiz a witch.
Sc. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 66:
A Riglen Ram, an' thirty yowes.
Sc. 1803 Farmer's Mag. (Nov.) 399:
One kind are called riglands, having one stone in the scrotum, and another in the back, a little behind the kidneys.
Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 191:
Nae wadder fleet can ower them jump, . . . E'en Rigling Rallions.
Sc. 1849 H. Stephens Bk. Farm. I. 534:
It is improbable that the breeders of this country will follow a practice which will let loose such a horde of riglins amongst their herds.
Edb. 1940 R. Garioch 17 Poems for 6d. 7:
A makar is a rigglin amang stots, fidgin wi virr, unsiccar o success.

[O.Sc. riglen, id., 1563, corresponding to E.M.E. ridgeling, id., derivs. of Rig, ridge, the back, where the undescended testicle was supposed to be lodged. Mid.Eng. has rig in the same sense.]

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"Riglin n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/riglin_n1>

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