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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

WIND, v.², n.² Also wund (Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 24; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai); win, wun (ne.Sc. 1974), wyn; won (Edb. 1851 A. Maclagan Sketches 60); also, after Eng., wain, wein, wynn. Vbl.n. winnin (Ayr. 1796 Burns The Cardin' o't i.), wynnin (Ags. 1846 A. Laing Wayside Flowers 82). [wɪn(d), wʌn(d) (see I, letter, 2.(1)); wəin(d) from Eng.]

I. v. A. Forms. Pr.t. as above. Pa.t. strong wand (Fif. 1873 J. Wood Ceres Races 74), wan (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1905 E.D.D.; Abd. 1974) [wɑn(d)]; weak win't (Ayr. 1785 Burns Halloween xii.), winned (Kcd. 1844 W. Jamie Muse 6), won'd (Bnff. 1844 T. Anderson Poems 61); wund (Lth.); reduced waind (Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 130) [wɪnt, -d]. Pa.p. strong wund (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), wunnd (Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (Jooly 12)), wun (ne.Sc. 1974), won (Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 83); weak windit, wundit (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai), wunded (Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 200), reduced win', weind (Bnff. 1847 A. Cumming Tales (1896) 42) [wʌn; ′wɪndɪt. ′wʌndɪt]

B. Usages: 1. Phrs. and comb.: (1) to wind a pirn, see Pirn, n.¹, Combs. (28); (2) to win(d) the or a (blue) clue, specif. to wind a ball of worsted in a kiln in order to divine one's future spouse as a rite at Halloween (see Blue Clue); (3) wind-band, w(o)und-band, an iron hoop or band put round a wooden bar, spoke, etc. to strengthen it and prevent it from splintering (Rxb. 1825 Jam., wund-; Dmf. 1970); specif. the nave-band of a wheel.(2) Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 68:
She wand the clue wi' tentie han'. An' cries, “Wha hauds the end o't?”Abd. 1906 Banffshire Jnl. (10 July) 10:
While Peggy wan her worsit clue.(3) Sc. 1705 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 373:
For the windbank [sic] to the cart 5sh .e.Lth. 1807 Foord Acct. Bk. MS. 29:
To weshers and linnails and wound bands for axil 7 lb.

2. refl. To move, betake oneself, proceed, esp. in an insinuating manner. Obs. in Eng.Lnk. 1902 A. Wardrop Hamely Sk. 67:
As I rose tae wind mysel' aside 'er I fell an' a'.

3. To wrap (a corpse) in a shroud. Vbl.n. winding. Now dial. in Eng. exe. in comb. winding-sheet.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xxiii.:
I was at the winding of the corpse.Dmf. 1823 J. Kennedy Poems 49:
S — y's win' i' the last sheet As cauld as lead.Gall. 1832 J. Denniston Craignilder 76:
Dundrennan lasses turn your wheels, Twine winning sheets for gallant chiels.

4. tr. To plait, twist (rope, etc.) (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Hence n. winder, an instrument for twisting straw-ropes, a thraw-cruik (Wgt. 1961 Gwerin III. 211).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 23:
I wis sittin' windin simmits at wir fireside.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 56:
Dere he wad sit concordedly, windin' bands at the fireside.

5. tr. To draw coal to the pithead by means of a winding-engine (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 73) Also in n.Eng. mining usage.Fif. 1777 Session Papers, Memorial Carron Co. (25 April) 23:
Working these coals from the pillars, and winding or bringing them to the pithead.e.Lth. 1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 186:
To get their coals winded to the pithead.

II. n. 1. A reel or instrument for winding yarn; as much yarn as a reel will hold. Dim. windie, a type of crank mounted on a stand for winding straw ropes (Sh. 1961). Cf. winder above. See also Yairn. n., 2.(8).Rnf. 1726 W. Hector Judicial Records (1878) II. 278:
To 3 wins of blak ducth [sic] thrid . . 9d sterling.Ork. 1747 P. Ork. A.S. XII. 50:
2 old yairn wynds, a Clos stool box.

2. The angle at which the spokes of a wheel are set in the nave. Cf. Eng. wind, a twist, a direction off the true.Abd. 1947:
Gie that spoke a bit mair win.