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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WIN, v.¹, n.¹ Also winn, wine; wun, won (Abd. 1777 R. Forbes Ulysses 17; Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers i.), see P.L.D. § 76.1; wone; ¶whin (see I. 4.(2)). Sc. forms and usages. [wɪn; ne., m. and s.Sc. + wʌn]

I. v. A. Forms. Pr.t. and inf. as above. Pa.t. wan (Ayr. 1789 Burns To Dr Blacklock viii.; Sc. a.1894 Stevenson New Poems (1918) 52; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Sh., ne.Sc. 1974), wun. Pa.p. won, wun (s.Sc. 1873 D.S.C.S. 209; Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai). Gen.Sc. [wʌn]; wan (w.Lth. 1892 R. Steuart Legends 181); †win (Gsw. 1718 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 8; Rnf. 1769 Weekly Mag. (25 May) 242; Abd. 1876 R. Dinnie Songs 72).

B. Usages: 1. As in Eng. to be victorious, to carry the day, in games, etc. Hence wonner (Bwk. 1724 R. Johnston Duns (1953) 72), winner, a victor, specif. in curling: the stone played nearest the tee; winning ring, a variety of marbles in which the stakes are placed inside a ring marked on the ground and those knocked out of it are appropriated by the victor.Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 167:
A leal shot ettled at the cock, Which shov'd the winner by.Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems 62:
Now, John, do you see a' the winner, If no, tak this wick at my cowe.Sc. 1890 J. Kerr Hist. Curling 404:
To cannon, or make a guard butt off the winner and follow in so as to lie shot.Abd. 1903 W. Watson Auld Lang Syne 31:
We all played with the ‘bools' at the ‘winning ring', ‘kypie', and ‘hard nickle doon'.

2. tr. To beat, defeat, overpower (n.Sc., ‡Ayr. 1974). Obs. in Eng. exc. dial.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie W. Crighton 14:
Say ‘bat' when you speak about fechting, Wattie. An' did you win him?wm.Sc. 1985 William McIlvanney The Big Man (1987) 197:
'Did you win him, Dad?'
'Aye.'

3. (1) tr. or absol. To earn, to gain by labour (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 125, 1808 Jam.; Mry. . 1925; Sh., Cai., Ags., Per., wm.Sc. 1974); to pay one's way, to make (a profit). Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. Vbl.n. winnin(s), -en, earnings, profits (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., winnen). For phrs. tyne or win, wyn and tyne, see Tyne, v., 1.(3).Sc. 1724–5 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 82, 100:
Wi' cauk and keel I'll win your bread . . . He may crack of his winning, When he clears scores with me.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 112:
But see whare now she wuns her Bread.Ayr. 1785 Burns O Merry hae I been ii.:
Bitter in dool, I lickit my winnins O' marrying Bess, to gie her a slave.Ags. 1794 “Tam Thrum” Look before ye Loup 4:
Instead o' tipplin' an' squanderin' my winnins.Dmf. 1829 W. Caesar Jaunt 13:
[To discontinue a Mail Coach] Because his Grace, diel tak' the hun', Says she's no winning.Rnf. 1836 R. Allan Evening Hours 54:
A poor thriftless wight To spend the gear sae ill to won.Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller iv.:
Ilka steek my ain winning.Ayr. 1855 Maybole Ragged School Minute Book MS. (6 Nov.) 1:
Applicant wins on an average 3/- per week.Bnff. 1887 W. Philip Covedale 49:
He's nae wonin' as muckle as would clad himsel.Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 68:
The han' that wid waur sud first be gart wun! Weel-wun siller pairts weel!Sc. 1928 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 363:
We win oor warks mang ither ledes an' lans.

Hence comb. win-bread, that which earns one's daily bread, a means of livelihood.Abd. 1812 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 1) II. 125:
My gossip shall try all her capers, Her belts and her win-breads put on.Crm. 1835 H. Miller Scenes and Leg. 316:
Home were but a cold home without either our fish or our winbread.

†(2) intr. to get fatter, put on weight.Edb. 1825 Royal Sc. Minstrelsy 132:
She was thick fat when she was fleeced Sinsyne she's aye been wonnin.

4. (1) To gather in (crops, etc.), to cut or do whatever is necessary to grain, hay , or the like, to secure and preserve it for food, to harvest (I.Sc., Cai., Ags., wm.Sc. 1974), in some contexts indistinguishable from Win, v.²; to prepare a piece of ground for cultivation (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.). Cf. O.N. vinna, id.; to cut and dig out peats from a moss (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Abd. 1717 T. Mair Ellon Presb. Rec. (1898) 299:
The tenants of Meikle Ythsey were bound to winn and lead peats as to pay their farmes.Ayr. 1727 Sc. Hist. Review I. 167:
He is to . . . plough the land and cut down the haye and help to win it.Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs I. 153:
It fell and about the Lammas time, When husband men do win their hay.m.Lth. 1786 G. Robertson Har'st Rig (1801) cxxxvi.:
For now the Maiden has been win, And Winter is at last brought in.Dmf. 1831 R. Shennan Tales 155:
I canna for midges get wonnin' my hay.s.Sc. 1905 Border Mag. (March) 49:
Mony sic a nicht hev aw lain oot when we used to be wuning the bent on the fells.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To win de vor, to perform spring work in the field.Ork. 1968 M. A. Scott Island Saga 94:
The wives gaed tae the ebb for bait aun looked aifter the beasts — aun sometimes won ware.

(2) To extract (coal or other mineral) by mining or quarrying (Sc. 1808 Jam.), to sink a pit or shaft to a coal-seam (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 73). The form whin in 1849 quot. is due to confusion with Whin, n.¹ Vbl.n. winning, a seam, a working or extraction of coal. Orig. Sc. but now in Eng. technical usage. Phr. to win out, to widen out a working, “as where longwall working is being commenced” (Barrowman).Gsw. 1704 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (B.R.S.) 375:
They allwayes being obleidged to winn and work the said coall in ane orderly and regular manner.Sc. 1722 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 257:
The ruins of the castle are so strongly cemented, that the stones may be easier won out of a quarry than out of them.Ags. 1730 Dundee Kirk Session Records MS. (17 Nov.):
They were winning stones upon the Acre belonging to the kirk poor.Fif. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XII. 539:
Whatever extent of coal is dried, either by a free level, or an engine, it is called, in the language of the colliers, a winning, i.e. a gaining of the coal.Ayr. 1841 Trans. Highl. Soc. XIII. 217:
The iron-stone . . . was win by “cross-cuts” and worked at the same time as the coal.Fif. 1844 P. Chalmers Dunfermline 43:
A new pit termed the Crawford, intended for the principal winning, is in process of sinking.Bwk. 1849 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club 344 note:
Some workmen employed in “whinning” sandstone at the Black Hill.

5. To fetch, deliver, drive home (a stroke, blow, etc.) (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.).Rxb. 1806 J. Hogg Poems 50:
Wi' that he wan 'im sic a clank Between the shou'ders an' the flank.Slk. 1832 Hogg Altrive Tales 184:
Winning a pelt at one of the ill-conditioned calves.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 195:
Sune Tammie sprang frae aff his seat, An' wan at him a rattle.Slk. 1875 Border Treasury (29 May) 499:
Aw wan 'im a reeker ahint the lug wi' my dooble neeve, an' felld 'im like an ox.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 24:
A'll wun ee yin i the lug if ee say that ti mei.

6. In very freq. use = Eng. get: (1) to make or find one's way, to proceed, pass on, to succeed in arriving at some destination, freq. with the notion of surmounting obstacles on the way, (i) intr. or absol. with advs. (Per., Fif., Lth. Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Uls. 1953 Traynor). Gen.Sc. See also (3) and (4) below.Wgt. 1743 T. McCrie Mem. Sir Andrew Agnew (1850) 9:
“I hear you let the French get in among us?” “Yes, please your Majesty,” replied he, “but they didna win back again.”Sc. 1761 Session Papers, Gray v. Southwell (27 Feb.) 18:
Bear up my Wife's Heart as much as possible, or I see and win home.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 209:
The fient ane there but pays his score, Nane wins toll-free.Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery iii.:
If we can but win across this wide bog.Ayr. 1826 R. Hetrick Poems 81:
He's been troubled lang; but now He's won to rest.Abd. 1863 G. MacDonald D. Elginbrod vii.:
I trust in God he's won hame by this!Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 208:
He crap frae his hidin' close on the Laird's chair, An' nearer an' nearer he wan aye.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Merry Men ii.:
He would have had a prood, prood heart that won ashore upon the back o' that.Kcb. 1896 Crockett Grey Man 1.:
James, won thou forth on thy way.Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 7:
Aabody kjempin wha hiechest sall win.Sc. 1911 Glasgow Herald (6 May):
Ye could win frae ane toon tae the t'ither for a saxpence.Slg. 1949 W. D. Cocker New Poems 35:
We'll pray they win safe hame again.

(ii) tr. To reach (a place), gain, arrive at (Abd. 1825 Jam., to win the door; I.Sc. 1974). Adj. winnable, of ground: attainable, reachable, esp. by sheep in snow.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 66:
Wi' what pith she had she taks the gate, And wan the burn.Ayr. 1790 Burns Tam o' Shanter 207–8:
Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg, And win the key-stane o' the brig.s.Sc. 1824 Farmer's Mag. (Aug.) 325:
The number of lots into which they [sheep] are divided, and even the number in each lot, should be determined by the temperature of the day, and by the extent of winnable ground within their reach.Gsw. a.1872 W. Miller Willie Winkie (Ford 1902) 81:
At length they won the welcome gate.Ags. 1958 Forfar Dispatch (19 June):
Efter a roondabout road we wan the duck pond, a picter in itsel.em.Sc. 2000 James Robertson The Fanatic 65:
' ... Sae naethin changed, and of coorse as sune as the young King wan hame at the Restoration the citadel was ordered tae be dismolished. ... ' Edb. 2004:
We didnae win hame until efter it stopped rainin.

(2) (i) absol. to ‘manage', to be able to make a journey or attend at a place despite difficulties (Sc. 1808 Jam., Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; I., ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1974); to find it possible or be permitted to go (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 215; I., ne.Sc., em.Sc. 1974).Wgt. 1712 Session Bk. Glasserton MS. (3 Aug.):
She went upon the Sabbath day because she could not win upon another day.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 299:
Poor Bessie, that yond to the hallan' Had croppen as far's she could win.Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 107:
He but only wan in time, The fatal sight to see.m.Lth. 1842 Children in Mines Report (2) 448:
I would like to go to school, but canna wone owing to sair fatigue.Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gall. Gossip 268:
He wus tae gang at yince an pray ower her or she wud be deid or he wun.Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (27 Nov.) 3:
A lot o' fowk that were comin' winna win noo.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 6:
A doot A'll no can wun.Abd. 1970:
He's nae winnin out tae play or he daes his lessons.

(ii) with to and inf.: to succeed (in doing, reaching, becoming, etc.), to manage, contrive (I., ne.Sc. 1974).Sc. 1700 T. Boston Memoirs (1776) 140:
I am habitually cast down, and cannot win to get my heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord.Sc. 1705 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 372:
For make a trap to winn to draw the paces of the knock in the stair.Abd. 1733 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd (1765) 32:
When little Jack broke out of prison When he wan gae.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 84:
Well will she fa' that wins his wife to be.Abd. 1844 W. Thom Rhymes 96:
Ere the dowie morn daw, Whan I canna win to see you.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona ix.:
But could I win to get a copy?

(3) With preps. and advs. in various idiomatic senses: (i) win about, to get round, circumvent, esp. by wheedling (Sc. 1808 Jam.); (ii) win abune, — abeen, to get over, overcome, recover from (an illness, misfortune, etc.) (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags. 1974); (iii) win aff, (a) to leave, depart, go away (Sh. 1974); (b) to get away, escape; to “get off,” be acquitted (Sc. 1808 Jam.; I., ne.Sc., Ags. 1974); (c) to dismount (from a horse); (d) to stop work, to come to the end of a task (Sh. 1974); (e) to turn out, end up (in a particular way); (iv) win afore, to get ahead of, outrun, anticipate (Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc., Ags. 1974); (v) win after, to pursue, chase (Sh. 1974); (vi) win at, to reach, get at or to (I., n., m.Sc. 1974); to find out, get to the bottom of (Sc. 1808 Jam.); (vii) win awa, (a) to leave, take one's departure (Sc. 1825 Jam.); to escape, be permitted or find it possible to go (Sc. 1808 Jam.; I., ne.Sc., Ags. 1974); (b) to die, to pass away, esp. of release from great suffering or distress (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 275). Gen. (exc. I.) Sc.; (viii) win by(e), adv., to get past; prep., to avoid, circumvent (Sc. 1825 Jam.; I., ne.Sc., Ags. 1974); (ix) win frae, -from, to be allowed to leave, to escape (Sh., Ork. 1974); (x) win in, (a) to obtain entry, get in (to) (Sc. 1808 Jam., Per., 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 215; I., ne.Sc., Ags. 1974); (b) to succeed, manage, with inf. also freq. followed by another prep. or adv. about, to get near or close to (ne.Sc. 1974), ahin, to get the better of, outsmart (Id.), wi, to win the good graces of, find favour with. Gen.Sc.; (xi) win on, (a) prep., to get on (horseback, etc.), to mount (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1974); with ahint, = win in ahin above (Sc. 1808 Jam., “apparently in allusion to one leaping on horseback behind another, and holding him as prisoner”); with for, tae, to secure election or appointment as (ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1974): (b) adv., to carry on, keep going, continue; (xii) win out, (a) to get out, escape. Gen.Sc..; also tr. with o, ower, to escape from, get over or out of; (b) of time: to elapse, pass; (xiii) win ower, (a) to (be allowed to) cross, pass over (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1974); (b) to recover from, overcome (I., ne.Sc., sm.Sc. 1974); (xiv) win tae, (a) prep., to arrive at, reach (Sc. 1808 Jam.; I., ne., em.Sc. 1974); (b) adv., to get up to, come near or within reach of (Ags., Per. 1974); to set to at table, fall to eating; (c) with wi: to overtake, make up on; to be even with, revenged on (Abd. 1974); (xv) win throu, tr. and intr., to get through, accomplish (Sh., Ork., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Gsw., Ayr., Rxb. 2000s); (xvi) win till, = (xiv) (a) (Sh., n.Sc. 1974); (xvii) win up, (a) to rise to one's feet, stand up (n.Sc., Per. 1974); (b) with on: to prevail upon, win (one) round; (c) with tae or wi: to get as far as, catch up on, overtake, attain to (Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1974); (xviii) win wi, to be allowed to accompany; (xix) win within, to get inside.(ii) Abd. c.1760 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 66:
I'm really fleyt that our gudewife Will never win aboon't ava.Abd. 1827 J. Leslie Willie & Meggie 44:
I thocht ance in a day 'at she wid may be win abeen Robbie's death.Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 58:
Fat wye they wan abeen the blow Is mair than I can tell.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 39:
But for mischief name a body, He can never win aboon't.(iii) (a) Sc. 1728 P. Walker Six Saints (Fleming 1901) I. 69:
He could not win off till he got this done.(b) Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 46:
That's our Decreet; — gae hame and sleep, And thank us ye're win aff sae cheap.Edb. 1801 J. Thomson Poems 35:
How she wan off I dinna ken, Some say she started up a hen, And flew awa out o'er a glen.Slk. 1823 Hogg Tales (1874) 297:
Nae proof could be led against him, and he wan off.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
The doctor was pruv't Not Guilty; the lads Walker and Spence wan aff unproven.Kcd. 1929 J. B. Philip Weelum o' the Manse 26:
Speaking of a minister he liked he remarked, “There's nae winnin' aff frae him.”(c) Sc. 1880 Jam.:
He's on the horse but he canna win aff.(d) Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 246:
We just hed tree days o' bereseed an' a day o' taties ta wirk, an' den we were won aff.(e) Ork. 1907 Old-Lore Misc. I. II. 61:
Da ploys dey hed i' the auld times, an' wheer yarns aboot hoo some wan aff ae wey an' some anither.(v) Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 52:
We got fairly awa before he had gathered his wits to win after us.(vi) Wgt. 1724 Session Bk. Wgt. (27 April) 326:
Thretned to cutt William Stewart all in collops if he could have win at his door.Sc. 1837 Chambers's Jnl. (Feb.) 19:
Let me won at him, and I'll send him off in a hurry.Abd. 1863 G. MacDonald D. Elginbrod i. v.:
The meanin' o' the haill ballant is no that ill to win at, seein' the poet himsel' tels us that.Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 12:
I couldna win at that leak no-how.Ork. 1904 W. T. Dennison Sketches 16:
I got the folk tae lift the kist oot fae the wa' sae as I could win at the back o' her.Abd. 1922 Weekly Free Press (4 Feb.) 2:
Fat diz't maitter tho' it sid be slavery wark, sae lang's ye get men nae only wullin' t' dee't bit anxious t' wun at it?(vii) (a) Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 52:
So sett in view, they cud na win awa'.Edb. 1801 J. Thomson Poems 34:
Quoth he, ‘The sorry's i' the cutty, She'll win awa, for a' my witty.'Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1874) 187:
She had been rather lang o' winning away and had muckle ado.Lnk. 1838 J. Morrison McIlwham Papers 11:
I wuss to dumfounder the Rafrilan chiel afore he wins away.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
Some o' them actually luiks as gin they hed been in Tod Lowrie's cluicks an' wun awa wi' half o' their claes aff.Dmf. 1912 A. Anderson Later Poems 4:
Last to get his books an sklate — Last to won awa'.ne.Sc. 1964 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 273:
Ye're nae wunnin' awa' onywye.wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 26:
Ye were for makin a prisoner o him. He was juist tryin to win away frae ye. He didna want to hurt ye at aa.(b) Per. 1821 C. Gray Misc. Pieces 132:
Our lassie wan awa' Jo!Ayr. 1832 Galt Stanley Buxton I. iv.:
It's only to tell me, that the old Lord has wonne away.Ags. 1889 Arbroath Guide (13 April) 3:
Sae she has won awa' at the lang-length.Kcb. 1893 Crockett Raiders xliv.:
Ever since her ain guid man won awa'.Arg. 1914 J. M. Hay Gillespie i. xii.:
We thocht he'd never win awa'.Sc. c.1925 R. Thomas Sandie McWhustler's Waddin' 54:
He's win awa noo, an' we're a heap the poorer for't.(viii) Edb. 1825 R. Chambers Traditions II. 193:
When he saw any person looking very hard at his prominent feature, he was in the habit of standing sideways, close up to the wall, holding his nose aside with his hand, and saying — “Pray, sir, will ye win bye?”Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxxv.:
Ye're bleezing awa about marriage, and the job is how we are to win bye hanging.Slg. 1872 Chambers's Jnl. (7 Dec.):
Puir laddie, he couldna win by it; it was ordained for him or ever he had a sark on his back.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 114:
Come awa ben man. Can ye win bye the winter-dykes?Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 24:
Can ee no wun bye?Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 22:
Whin we wan by yon Baa, dan we wid be haf gaits trow.(ix) Gall. 1706 Session Bk. Penninghame (1933) I. 183:
She made a lye of him to win from the school and get her liberty of play.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie i.:
Ye'll ne'er again win frae my arms till I dee.Rxb. 1896 J. C. Dibdin Cleekim Inn viii.:
Sir Michael he never could wun frae the army till yesterday.(x) (a) m.Lth. 1718 J. Monro Letters (1722) 121:
If once your Soul win in at the Gate of true Conversion.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xiii.:
Ye'll find it's easier wunnin in than wunnin out here.Dmf. 1829 W. Caesar Jaunt 16:
Wi' fervour pray, That he should into heaven win.Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped iv.:
Ye can only win into it from the outside.Kcb. 1913 G. M. Gordon Auld Clay Biggin' 13:
Awa roond wi' ye tae the back door, ye'll no win in thro' here.Sh. 1972 New Shetlander No. 100. 24:
Dey're aye needin ta win in ta da toon.(b) Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 43:
Folks then frae Embro, in a morn, might win in, To tak' their breakfast wi' their friends in Lonnon.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb x.:
My uncle wan in to be a lawvyer.Abd.²⁷ 1949:
Ye winna easy win in ahin him.Abd. 1969 Huntly Express (11 April) 2:
A young chiel will try queer proticks tae win in wi' a deem.(xi) (a) Lnk. 1865 J. Hamilton Poems 238:
I'll min the shoon whan I win on the loom again.ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 19:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, an John Haud the horse till I win on.Abd. 1967 Fraserburgh Herald (10 Feb.):
He gaed awa' to win onta the bobbies in Edinburgh.ne.Sc., Per. 1974:
He won on for provost, for manager, etc.(b) Ayr. 1940 Private Letter:
An old Ayrshire woman told me that she was seventy and was having her first illness. “Ye can win on a lang time, but you canna evite it.”Bwk. 1947 W. L. Ferguson Makar's Medley 51:
Werena my legs and wuts that raivell't, I micht wun on to the Ploo [a pub].(xii) (a) Ags. 1732 Dundee Kirk Session Rec. MS. (28 March):
She was glade to say any thing to win out of their hands.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvii.:
Ou, ye've wun oot owre yer bed.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present 54:
Wae wirth him, that he ever wan oot o't.Abd. 1918 Abd. Book-Lover II. v. 140:
They canna win oot, we dinna want in.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood x.:
I never thocht to win out o' yon awesome place.Arg. 1946 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 222:
The mackerel leaping and struggling and hurling themselves in a frenzy at the meshes; trapped life mad to win out.(b) ne.Sc. 1929 Abd. Press and Jnl. (18 Sept.) 6:
Afore a week wins oot, I'll cheenge t' Sunday claes, An' rope ma kist for hame — an Benachie.(xiii) (a) Sc. 1897 L. Keith Bonny Lady ix.:
You'll never win over the doorstep of Minto House.m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 50:
Syne we won ower the hinmost rig Amang the dumps.Sc. 1952 Scots Mag. (March) 457:
Unfashed he won owre the muirs o' Ale, By ditch and covert, by knowe and dale.(b) Sc. 1705 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) I 80:
I wan over this some way.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xxxviii.:
She wad hardly win ower a lang day in the baggage-wain.wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan I. 88:
There's been mony a ane as sair forfochten and wan owr't a'.Lth. 1856 M. Oliphant Lilliesleaf lix.:
He sat down again, winning over his rage and his fury.Edb. 1881 J. Smith Habbie and Madge 67:
Hoots, woman, ye'll win owre't.(xiv) (a) Sc. 1705 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) I. 80:
I wan to the Merns.Sc. 1802 Scott Minstrelsy II. 10:
Ere they win to the Ritterford.Abd. 1909 J. Tennant Jeannie Jaffray 233:
Nae a drap watter cud win to the dam.Sh. 1928 Shetland Times (14 July):
Whin I wan ta da Hospital, here wis a lok o' lasses fleein aboot laek white maas.(b) Abd. 1777 R. Forbes Ulysses 37:
I've turned out a' the stanes Stood i' the road; the gutter's sheeled: Ye a' win to at anes.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xiv.:
Mony a weary grace they said, or they wad let me win to.Slk. 1829 Hogg Tales (1837) III. 276:
Won a' to and fill yoursells, sirs.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie vi.:
After saying grace, and supplying each with a plate of excellent cockieleekie, “just win too, and begin.”Abd. 1973:
The boat cudna win tee for the swall.(c) Abd. 1890 Bon-Accord (30 Aug.) 17:
I've never won tee wi' my sleep sin the ball an' the games.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 49:
Bit fegs, aw'm sweer to lat 'im aff gin aw cud win tee wi' 'im.(xv) Sc. 1826 Moss-Troopers I. v.:
She's a fine sonsie lass, an wins through a' the wark.Gsw. 1843 Whistle-Binkie (1890) II. 131:
The meal whiles is dear and we've ill winning through.Kcb. 1897 J. Morrison Miss McGraw 55:
I gaed aboot the schule as usual, an' wan through the day's work somehoo.Slk. 1899 C. M. Thomson Drummeldale 95:
Yhist [sic] 'e, lass, and wun away throwe to Drummelside.m.Sc. 1979 Ian Bowman in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 41:
When we won through in-bye,
howkin' the brattice up,
an' oor lamps, fresh-chairgit,
sklentit doon
on their wee, dyin' glint
ahint a hutch, ... (xvi) Rnf. a.1810 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 264:
But now an I hae won till Ayr, Although I'm gae an wearie, O.(xvii) (a) Sc. a.1802 Jellon Graeme in Child Ballads No. 90 A. ii.:
“Win up, my bonny boy,” he says.Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Misc. Poetry 64:
When we fell, we aye wan up again, an' sae will we yet.Abd. c.1840 Kempy Kay in Child Ballads V. 213:
Win up, win up my ae foul flag.Sc. 1928 T. T. Alexander Psalms cxxiv. 1:
Gin that the Lord Did ne'er us weel betyde, When men wan up Agin' us.(b) Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds vi.:
I was a silly saumon to swallow. But he won upon me, so I told him o' the wadsets on Auldbiggings.(c) Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers xiii.:
When a man like yoursel wons up to a kirk and a braw young leddy worth three hun'er a-year, we say that siccan a man has won to his glory.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie Introd.:
Bolt up like the shot o' a gun, Till ye win up to Dumpie and Duncan her son.Abd. 1882 G. MacDonald Castle Warlock lxv.:
I won'er gien I hae a chance o' winnin' up wi' the laird!(xviii) Abd. 1873 P. Buchan Inglismill 30:
Had ye but mintit what ye had in view, I mith hae moyens laid to win wi' you.(xix) Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 190:
Soon as he wan within the Closs.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 182:
I mysel', this full hauf-year an' mair, Hae no' could win within the meeting door.

(4) In phrs.: (i) to win asleep, to get to sleep (I., ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1974); (ii) to win farrer (farther) ben, to be admitted to greater grace or favour (Sh., Ork., Ags. 1974). See Ben, 4.(6); (iii) to win clear, = (iv)(a); (iv) to win free, (a) intr. to become free, to escape, be released (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1905 E.D.D.; I., n.Sc., Per. 1974), also fig. by death; (b) tr. to release, set free. Sometimes written as one word; (v) to win one's way(s), fig., to die, pass hence; (vi) to win out at one's point, to make one's point, get one's own way; (vii) to win quat o', to escape from, get rid or quit of. See Quit, v., 1.; (viii) to win redd o' id. (ne.Sc., Ags. 1974). See Redd, v.¹, 3.; (ix) to win to (the)fit, to get to one's feet (I.Sc. 1974); (x) to win tae the road, to get a start, lit. and fig. (Sh., Abd. 1974).(i) Bnff. 1935 Abd. Press and Jnl. (1 Oct.):
He fesses up sic hidden truths tae view, That peer aul' Geordie, i' the hinmost pew, Can hardly win asleep.(iii) Kcb. 1896 Crockett Raiders viii.:
Some thrust in on him before he could win clear.(iv) (a) Sc. 1924 M. Angus Tinker's Road 31:
The auld kith an' kin They hae lang won free.Sh. 1962 E. O. Milne Wi' Lowin Fin 16:
O, lat wis win free.(b) Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Journal 27:
We speerd gin they wou'd lend us a hand to winfree our coach.Sc. 1818 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 155:
While I was winfreeit by a mare powerfu' being nor himsell.(v) Sc. 1823 Scots Mag. (July) 17:
He's won his ways — at four o'clock this morning he quietly dwammed awa'.Ayr. 1826 R. Hetrick Poems 80:
Auld Jamie has gi'en up the ghost And won his way.(vi) Abd. 1932 Abd. Press and Jnl. (13 April):
Hame afore Wastie he be te be, an' hame he wis. Wattie wan oot at's pint, an' that wis aneuch for him!(vii) Peb. 1838 W. Welsh Poems 60:
Yet soon as I your grips wan quat.(viii) Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vi.:
Ye've wun redd o' the guidwife.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 146:
She sat doon an' grat 'cause she cudna wun redd o' 't.(ix) Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 26:
She wins to foot, an' swavering makes to gang.Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 69:
When Wee Maggie had “wun to the fit”, she would toddle away as she could.(x) Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 19:
Concerning the possibilityy of the young people ‘winnin' to the road in course of time.Abd. 1966 Huntly Express (30 Sept.) 2:
I'll awa an' hae a shak'-doon afore the fire an' win seen tae the road.

II. n. 1. As in Eng. Sc. comb. win-and-loss, a game of marbles in which the winner keeps his gains and does not return them to his opponent as in Funny, q.v. (wm.Sc. 1887 Jam.). Hence reduced dim. form winnie, -y, wunny, id. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 275; Ags., Fif., Lth., Lnk., Kcb. 1974).Edb. 1864 A. Johnston Lays of Edina 112:
They lose when'er they play at “winny”.Hdg. 1886 J. P. Reid Facts and Fancies 194:
We'll try oor luck at wunny.Fif. 1897 G. Setoun G. Malcolm viii.:
He proposed a game at “Funny” till he learned to play. Then he would try him at “Winny.”

2. Earnings, wages, livelihood, profit, wealth. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1828 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) X. 510:
The Moor cock swore by his rough shin That he never wou'd brook the carle's win He would live better on the heather tap Than the Carle would live on all his crap.Clc. 1850 J. Crawford Doric Lays 44:
Fools think less o' wark than win.Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 110:
Mair for trade than love o' liquor, Spent a shillin' o' his win.

3. The quantity of standing corn that a team of reapers can cut while moving in one direction, gen. one or two rigs taken together, acc. to the size of the team (Cld. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1974). See I. 4.(1), Bandwin, tailwin s.v. Tail, n., 1.(21); the team itself, varying in number in different areas, gen. three (Cai. 1934) or six. Obs. since the use of the sickle was given up.Kcd. 1826 Caled. Mercury (7 Aug.):
Grain crops of all kinds, except wheat, are miserably deficient, so much so, that it is no uncommon thing this year to see reapers, — for shearers they can hardly be called, — plucking whole wins of both barley and oats as if they were lint, not having length enough to go over the hook.Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (14 April):
Three shearers made a “win,” and where there were two or three “win” working, if there was an attempt at striving, the parties who got first were said to be “kemping”