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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TYNE, v., n. Also tyn, tine; teyn (Ags. 1925 Forfar Dispatch (31 Dec.)); ¶tay(e)n; ¶tint (Bwk. 1897 R. M. Calder Poems 203, 209). [təin]

I. v. A. Forms: Pr.t. as above. Pa.t. tint (Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1973), tent (Ork. 1929 Old-Lore Misc. IX. ii. 78); tined, tyned, tynd (s.Sc. 1845 E. Aitchison Poems 84), tay(e)ned (Sc. 1818 Fair Mary in Child Ballads (1965) V. 228). Pa.p. tint (Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; ne.Sc. 1973), taint (Dmf. 1914 T. Prentice My Home when a Boy 12); tined (Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage xxvi.), tyn(e)d (Lth. 1813 G. Bruce Poems 89; Dmf. 1817 W. Caesar Poems 39; Peb. 1851 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) II. 380). [tɪnt, təind]

B. Usages: 1. To lose, to suffer the loss, destruction, disappearance, etc. of some attribute or possession, to cease to have or enjoy, to mislay (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 95, 1808 Jam.; Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson). Also ppl.adj. tint. Gen. (exc. I.) Sc. Also fig. Obs. in Eng. exc. n. dial. Vbl.n. tynin(g).Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 67:
Some, who 'maist had tint their Aynds.Sc. 1736 Ramsay Proverbs 5:
Restored to their proper sense, which had been frequently tint by publishers that didna understand our landwart language.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 39:
Ye maun look forret, an' the bargain hadd, Or else ye's tyne whatever ye held o' me.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 139:
Ky hae tint their milk wi' evil eie.Ayr. 1790 Burns Tam o' Shanter 188:
Tam tint his reason a' thegither.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel xv.:
There was mair tint on Flodden-edge.Sc. 1843 A. Bethune Peasant's Fireside 81:
Dinna tine heart, Mr Briggs.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xix.:
Oor tinkler acquaintances wad be sair grieved at the tynin' o' their cuddy.Sc. 1879 Stevenson Deacon Brodie ii. iv. 4:
The siller is spent, and the honour tint.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond Bawbee Bowden (1922) 26:
Dauvit aye tines his temper when he starts aboot the kirk.Sh. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vii. 274:
“Her at we tint.” That is how the Shetlander still speaks of the dead.Ags. 1924 A. Gray Any Man's Life 53:
O' it is sair to tine The friends o' auld lang syne.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxx.:
Ye'd seerly teen leave o' yer wuts, Eppie umman, ur at ony rate tint a sklett aff.ne.Sc. 1979 Alastair Mackie in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 63:
Gin I thocht o eternity and kent whit it meant,
it wid be this elemental hiss
splyterin saut on the tummle o its spines,
... I wid want my dowieness, my bellwaverin moods
to be tint in your dreich coronachs. Sc. 1983 John McDonald in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 44:
There's naethin tae tine
and naethin tae hain;
tae smoor onie life
is tae smoor yer ain. Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 47:
I dreamt my words
gaithert like stairvin birds
on a bare tree
and skreiched owre me
wi carrion hoast:
Lost! Lost!
And syne
I ran, wad tine
that greetin
o things forleeten
i the muckle dairk,
but aye the cark
souched ahent:
Tak tent! Tent! Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 84:
Yon peerie bairnies
chappin at yer door
ken a sang ye maun hae tint
lang years afore. m.Sc. 1991 William Neill in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 49:
The gowd is back upon the brae
Millyea has tint the snaw m.Sc. 1991 Tom Scott in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 43:
I sall tine
ma nowt gear
ma field gear, Ags. 1993 Mary McIntosh in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 113:
He wis gaen wrang aa thegither, it maun be aa the bluid he had tint. His guid haund gruppit the braig i his belt. The wummin taen a stap backart. Abd. 1995 Sheena Blackhall Lament for the Raj 23:
Noo he's a name. A book wis Victory's wages.
Tint generation, in a rowth o pages. Sc. 1995 James S. Adam New Verses for an Auld Sang 13:
We're born and we're mairrit, syne happit in clay,
an maist o's 'll traivel that gait, culture crinan;
it's gey near thon morn whan oor lugs'll ding sair
wi scorn fae oor bairns owre twa tongues they'll be tynan.

Freq. in proverbial expressions:Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 325, 342:
Tine Needle, tine Dark. Spoken to young Girls, when they lose their Needle. Tine Cat, tine Game. An Allusion to a Play call'd Cat i' the Hole, and the English Kit, Cat. Spoken when Men at Law have lost their principal Evidence. Tine Book, tine Grace. Spoken to School-Boys, when they have lost their Book. . . . Work Legs, and win Legs, hain Legs, and tine Legs.Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 498:
Drank till the niest day's dawing, Sae snell that some tint baith their een. [i.e. got blind drunk.]Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 79:
We maunna weary wi' thir rugged braes; Tyn heart, tyn a'.Bnff. 1782 Caled. Mercury (14 Aug.):
He wad na slouch, neit jake, na scouk, Neit tine his mill. It is said by the hooks in harvest, when the bandster falls behind with his work, that he tines, that is, loses his mill.m.Lth. 1786 G. Robertson Har'st Rig lxxi.:
The Bansters too ha'e tint their mill.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail lxxiv.:
As the auld bye-word says, tynes bottles gathering straes [i.e. misses important things through pre-occupation with trifles].Sc. 1826 Lockhart Scott lxvii.:
Tell her to keep her spirits up. Tyne heart, tyne all.Bnff. 1890 Trans. Bnff. Field Club 63:
He'll either win the horse or tine the saddle [i.e. he'll risk everything].

(2) To cause the loss of, deprive of; also intr. with o, but this may be a mistake for twined s.v. Twin, v., 4.Rnf. 1815 W. Glen Remains (1874) 148:
It's tined us o' our sutors baith.Gsw. 1858 Lyric Gems Scot. (Cameron) II. 29:
It tint me my love, and it wiled me frae hame.Abd. 1923 L. Coutts Hotch Potch 17:
I dinna believe in music or dancin', They tyne yer wits like winkin'.Bwk. 1947 W. L. Ferguson Makar's Medley 51:
Thae dem'd divots! they've tint me my cuttie.

(3) In collocations with win, esp. in regard to one's ordinary business transactions as a citizen: to lose (money, advantage, etc.). Phr. between the tyning and the winning, in a critical or doubtful state, hovering between success and failure (Sc. 1825 Jam.); of weather: unsettled, changeable (Ags. 1956).Sc. 1700 Records Conv. Burghs (1880) 305:
Bearing all portable charges with his neighbours and bears a pairt of their public burdens, and can tin and win in all their affairs.Edb. 1771 Session Papers, Mackenzie v. Brown & Craig Proof 13:
Mrs Dunbar is a woman of unexceptionable character; has neither winning or tyning in the present action.Sc. 1784 G. Caw Poet. Museum 374:
The pauky wiles nae motion lost, 'Tween tyning aft an' winning.Ayr. 1794 Burns A Vision iv.:
Like Fortune's favors, tint as win.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xx.:
Having left my cause in the dead-thraw between the tyneing and the winning.Ayr. 1834 Galt Liter. Life III. 39:
There is a time atween the tining and the winning in every man's life.wm.Sc. 1882 Songs Cld. (Nimmo) 26:
Sic comin' and gangin', and wooin' and thrangin', And tynin' and winnen'.

2. (1) To fail to obtain, miss, come short of (ne.Sc., Ags. 1973); to forfeit, be deprived of.Lnk. 1711 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 117:
Whosoever shall att any tyme therafter resett, receave, suply, or intertain any of the said Egyptians shall tine their escheat.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 160:
She grasps the Shadow, but the Substance tines.Sc. 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process 31:
The Repledger, if he failed to do Justice upon him, in due course, tined his Court for Year and Day.Abd. 1841 J. Imlah Poems 103:
An' to taste sic sweet forbidden fruit, I'd tine a second Eden!e.Lth. 1882 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) IV. 331:
The sordid elf wha lives for self, He tines earth's rarest pleasure, O!Abd. 1923 R. Annand End of Fiammetta 75:
Ye hae tint that croon o' gude red gowd.Sc. 1928 W. P. McKenzie Fowls o' Air 4:
Ye hae been faithfu' in least as in meikle, Gude o' this life ye shallna tine.

(2) To lose a cause at law, to fail in one's suit or claim (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Hence tyner, -ar, the loser in a legal case (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1712 Fountainhall Decisions (1761) II. 728:
Laws of all nations ordain the tyner of a cause to pay the victor's expence.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 103:
I tint the cause; but, or it was made clear, It cost me a' the nout within my byre.

(3) To lose or miss (one's way), to stray from (the right road); refl. to lose oneself, get lost (Sh., Bnff., Abd., Per. 1973), fig. to lose control of oneself, be beside oneself.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 333:
I ha'e been foughten sae of late That I ha'e maistly tint the gate.Edb. 1798 D. Crawford Poems 22:
He tint the road as he gade hame.Sc. 1805 Scott Last Minstrel ii. xxxi. note:
They heard a voice at some distance crying “tint! tint! tint!”Fif. 1841 C. Gray Lays 183:
Your bluid is thin, ye've tint the gate, Ye shouldna stray sae far frae hame.Bnff. 1887 W. M. Philip Covedale i.:
Are you beside yoursel'? ha'e you tint yoursel' a' thegither?n.Sc. 1916 M. Maclean Roving Celt 53:
A man may tine his gate, I trow, When winter munes are clearest.

(4) To lose (one's footing), miss (a step) (Abd. 1973). Also fig. in phr. to tine the fit, of a woman: to be confined in child-bed (Sc. 1825 Jam. s.v. Fall, 3.).Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 499:
Unluckily he tint the fit And tann'd his ain bum-leather.Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 19:
An' L — d I've aften tint my feet By thy strong bowl.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 38:
A'll tine my feet athegidder.

(5) To lose by dropping or letting fall; to drop (a stitch) in knitting (Abd. 1973). Ppl.adj. tint, of corn: shaken out by wind.Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Glendornie iv.:
“Tint loops” and “hinging' hairs”.Abd. 1928 Abd. Press & Jnl. (16 Oct.) 9:
There is little “tint corn” for the hens.

3. To get rid of, to free oneself from, abandon. Phr. to lose conceit or dint o', to lose interest in or concern for. See also Dint, n.¹Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 55:
We'll mak a shift to tyne her o' the road.Kcb. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 30:
And O! may I, ere life shall dwine Return, and a' my sorrows tine.Sc. 1874 W. Allan Hamespun Lilts 14:
Fouk for puir fouk hae tint conceit.Knr. 1895 H. Haliburton Dunbar 14:
They've tint conceit o' what's their ain.Gsw. 1898 D. Willox Poems 42:
Join me in a bicker, While oor cares we quickly tine.Abd. 1945 Scots Mag. (May) 138:
If, foriver in this wud I jist could lie an' tine ma thochts.

4. To fail to retain in the memory, to forget, be oblivious of (ne.Sc., Ags. 1973).Sc. 1765 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 43:
Lang has my breast frae Kenneth learn'd Sic baby fear to tine.Ayr. 1786 Burns Brigs of Ayr 130:
The Lord be thankit that we've tint the gate o't.Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel iii.:
I had clean tint the name of the wynd.Abd. 1851 W. Anderson Rhymes 132:
A strand o' the line O' auld recollections I wishna to tyne.e.Lth. 1885 S. Mucklebackit Rural Rhymes 219:
This human heart mak's sic a shine! An' downa eithly memory tine.Abd. 1898 J. Milne Poems 38:
The wyss His tellins winna tine, Nor Halie House forhow.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 17:
Tibbie, wivein' at her shank, Tines her coont again.

5. To spend unprofitably or in vain, to waste (time, labour, etc.).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 19:
All was tint that fell by. Spoken when correction is given to them who deserve it well; as if no Blows were amiss, but those which did not hit.Ayr. 1784 Burns Poet's Welcome iv.:
Sweet fruit o' monie a merry dint, My funny toil is no a' tint.Lth. 1801 J. Thomson Poems 34:
Mony a shot that day was tint, Which vex'd him sair.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 102:
Ilka day that shines, Smiles for the plough, or for the hook; It's drear the hour he tines.Abd. 1851 W. Anderson Rhymes 142:
Few tint a thocht upon Murdo Macraw.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 65:
Gin I had thae days, O! I'd tak my aith Ne'er to tyne them mair for dool or skaith.Abd. 1873 P. Buchan Inglismill 43:
Gin he wud but seek me this very gude e'en, He'd no tine his errand.Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 14:
We tint, an' thocht it heaven to tine, The 'oors amang the Ochils!Kcb. 1913 A. Anderson Late Poems 194:
The sands o' my life are unco few An' I ha'ena an hour to tyne.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 21:
Fine ken ye the time's wearin' near oor exam, Fan ae meenit tint is tae rue.

6. To part from, outstrip, draw away from, forge ahead of, leave behind.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vii.:
Oor Liza an' you ees't to be heid-y-peers, but ye're tynin' her a' thegither.Abd. 1917 D. G. Mitchell Clachan Kirk 14:
The hame an' the kirk hae tint ane anither.Abd. 1929:
Tak' tent o' time or time will tyne ye.

7. To spoil, destroy. Ppl.adj. tint, of a child: spoilt, over-petted (Ayr. 1905 E.D.D.).

8. intr. Of things: to suffer decline or diminution, to lose value or prestige, to fade away (Sh., Bnff., Ags. 1973); of persons: to perish, die.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 109:
My cromy is an useful cow, And I am laith that she shou'd tyne.Sc. a.1806 Thomas Rymer in Child Ballads No. 37 C. xi.:
For the lack o food he was like to tyne.Rnf. a.1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 94:
Their sangs and tunes shall never tyne.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet x.:
He is not the sort of gear that tynes.Sc. 1862 A. Hislop Proverbs 27:
A tale never tines in the telling.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 51:
My love for you never would tine.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 12:
Oh! I've a fancy — maybe odd, But yet it winna tyne.

9. To lose one's way, stray, wander; fig. to go astray, be lost or bewildered. Ppl.adj. tint, lost, forlorn, bewildered. Phr. to go a-tynin, to go amissing (Ayr. 1952).Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 26:
Let coofs their cash be clinking, Be statesmen tint in thinking.Sc. c.1730 Rymour Club Misc. III. iv. 167:
If this book happen to tine This write will sho that it is mine.Ayr. 1792 Burns Winsome Wee Thing i.:
Neist my heart I'll wear her, For fear my jewel tine.Dmf. c.1810 J. Hyslop Echoes (1912) 185:
A voice at some little distance crying to them through the mist, ‘We'll tine, we'll tine'.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie iv.:
He was, as his grandmother said, for some time “like a tynt creature,” and for lack of other company, often, on the road-side, fell into discourse with travelling tinklers.Abd. 1861 J. Davidson Poems 100:
I, tint in wunner, Did sain mysel'.Fif. 1881 Recent Sc. Poets (Murdoch) ii. 176:
As blin' as bats they tane the gait, but tint themsels ootricht.Kcb. 1896 Crockett Grey Man xxxii.:
My bairn is tint a' the same.Abd. 1931 D. Campbell Uncle Andie 55:
It's the tint an' foon column A'm meanin'.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 13:
His mither never cower't it; she was jist a kin' o' tint.

10. To separate, part, go one's own way. Poss. a mistake for twine, Twin.Abd. 1844 W. Thom Poems 106:
O'er brashy linn, o'er meadow fine, They never sinder, never tyne.Sc. 1929 Scots. Mag. (Oct.) 14:
If there's ony mair praisents gaun, you an' me maun tyne.

¶II. n. Only in phr. till tyne, to one's loss, in vain. Rare and obs. in Eng.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xlix. 4:
For nought an' till tyne, I hae ware'd my pyne.