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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCANCE, v., n. Also scanse, skance, skans; sconse. [skɑns]

I. v. †1. = Eng. scan, to look at, examine, analyse metrically (‡Abd. 1825 Jam.); to give a critical or appraising look at, scrutinise (Abd. 1969). Also intr. with at. Rare and obs. in Eng.Sc. 1826 Blackwood's Mag. (June) 684:
“Really, my Lord”, said the Captain, after sconsing it over, “I think it is far too liberal”.Slg. 1847 G. Wyse Pictures 68:
But Bill, by chance, a shilling draws, Which Bettock sees with scancing eye.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken xiv.:
Scancin' at my tuscan bonnet.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. xxv.:
[He] cuist hissel doon in prayer fornenst the offran-stane i' the kirk, an' skanced athin hissel.Abd. 1929 Abd. Book-Lover VI. 78:
Fin neist the speerin' time cam' roun', I skanct my lass fae Nochtyside.

2. To find out by investigation, seek a sight of.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 64:
On they bang wi' cuttie-haste, To scance their fortune fair.

3. With (up)on or about: to reflect on, consider, pass in review (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1724 A. Pennecuik Coll. Sc. Poems (1750) 15:
I cannot tell you how to scance On a' that's past.Per. 1739 A. Nicol Poems 69. 80:
But oh! my Muse, I want Engine To scance upon the Ancient Name . . . I ne'er admire the Learned. tho' they Scance On Stile and Numbers.Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 133:
'Bout France syne [he] did skance syne.

4. tr. or intr. with at: to criticise, be censorious about, reproach, taunt (Kcb. 1900; Cai. 1969).Slk. 1801 Hogg Sc. Pastoral 57:
Nane e'er for likin' me shall scance ye.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 182:
But war' ye me, your heart wad scance ye.Cai. 1928:
He noor skanced at 'e road.

5. To climb. A Latinism. Cf. Eng. scan, id., rare and obs. (see etym. note).ne.Sc. 1714 R. Smith Poems 112:
His Pious Soul did Jacob's Ladder scanse.

6. To glance, gleam, glitter, shine. Hence scancer, a showy person, one with good appearance or looks (Cld. 1825 Jam.); scansing, ppl.adj., good- or striking-looking, well-favoured, “bouncing”, of a young woman (Per. 1825 Jam.), vbl.n., show, fine appearance. Ppl.adj. -scanced, with qualifying adv.: having the appearance of, -looking.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 113:
The Cheeks observe, where now cou'd shine The scancing Glories o' Carmine?Bnff. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 143:
Thro' a' the lan' that New-Year's day Like ours there was nae scansin.Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 123:
In silk an' sattin ilk ane scances.Sc. 1818 Tam Lin in Child Ballads No. 39. frag. 3:
Gowden their wands an crowns, whilk scancet Like streamers in the sky.Ags. 1820 D. Wyllie Misc. Pieces 6:
She keeks in her glass And thinks that she is a braw scancer.Cld. 1882 Jam.:
He's an ill-scansed laddie, i.e. he has the look of a bad boy.Sc. 1926 H. McDiarmid Penny Wheep 64:
Brides sometimes catch their wild een, scansin' reid.

7. To make a great show in conversation, to talk in a pompous or affected manner, to exaggerate, embellish a story to the limits of credibility for the sake of effect (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.). Hence scancer, one who exaggerates or “talks big” (Kcd. 1825 Jam.).Ags. 1815 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (1883) 179:
Said Kelpie, “That I'll take my chance on, But faith, I sadly dred ye're scancin'”.

II. n. 1. (1) A glance, a quick appraising look, a brief scrutiny, a cursory survey or review of persons or affairs (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; I., n., em.Sc. (a), wm.Sc. 1969); a rough idea or estimate (Abd. 1929).Abd. 1787 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 23:
Sae braw a skance Of Ayrshire's dainty Poet there.Abd. 1810 W. Edwards Poems 54:
I could tak' a news frae France, Or get the cantin' Cobbet's skance.Sc. 1834 A. Picken Black Watch III. i.:
Watching the wild scance of his eye.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xi.:
They took a “skance” of what was going on there.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd ix.:
A wee bit skance o' the haill affair.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. iii.:
The cottar folk had a rale gweed knack o' kennin' the time wantin' ony o' them [clocks]. They had a good scance by the wark they had deen.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (15 Jan.):
There were no jinks and twitters in the furrow-scrats, to catch the eye of the critic takin' a bit skance up and doon the rig.

(2) blame, reproach, obloquy (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., skans). Phr. to cast a scanse on, to treat with reproach, be censorious about (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.).

2. A gleam, glance, a sudden short sight or appearance, a glimpse, tinge, hue of colour (Uls. 1953 Traynor; Ags., Per., Fif., w.Lth., Lnk., Ayr. 1969).Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick I. xi.:
I saw a red scance o' light.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah iv. 5:
The skance o' a lowe a' night.Kcb. 1912 A. Anderson Later Poems 134:
I catch the skance o' their feet.