Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TWINTER, n. Also twunter. A sheep, esp. a ewe, that has been thrice shorn and is in its third year (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Dmf. 1809 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 725; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Peb., Ayr., Slk. 1973). Also attrib. and in Eng. dial. See also Quinter and cf. Thrunter. [′twɪntər, ′twʌnt-]Sc. 1722 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 3:
Upon a Borrowing-day, when Sleet Made Twinters, and Hog-wedders bleet.Sc. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 38:
After a ewe has been shorn three times she is called a twinter ewe.Peb. 1872 Trans. Highl. Soc. 234:
One-fifth hoggs, another gimmers, a third twinters.Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 339:
Twinters and Thinters, sic like names for sheep.
