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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.

YIELD, v., n. Also yiel; yeill (Gsw. 1717 P. B. McNab Hist. Incorp. Gardeners Gsw. (1904) 30).

I. v. A. Forms. Pr.t. as above. Pa.t. strong †yald (Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 168). Pa.p. yowden, youden (Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 157). See P.L.D. § 78.2. [′jʌudən]

B. Usages. 1. As in Eng., to give way, submit, succumb under pressure, fail in strength. In derivs., and phr. (1) yieldy, adj., giving way. Comb. yieldie-bed, a quagmire (Bwk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 223); (2) yield-yow, a form of physical coercion by pressing one's thumb forcibly under another's ear (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). See Ye, pron.; (3) yowden, ppl.adj., limp, soft, lit. and fig., tired out; ‡of the hair: faded, turned grey (Lnk. 1962).(3)Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 63:
That for her Sake he was not yowden.Abd. 1808 Jam.:
When the effects of a thaw begin to be felt, it is common to say ‘the ice is yowden,' i.e. it has begun to give way.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 252:
Some yawp and yowden, blink and gaunt.Sc. 1839 Wilson's Tales of the Borders V. 322:
Ah! sir, though my wallet was yape, my heart was youden.Per. 1860 W. Watt Poems 31:
Wi' eild and storm was Donald yowden.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 40:
"Ach, min, I'm yowden,"
he said, knappin his bauld heid.
"Ye wadna think I'd hair wis gowden
nor een (they were wattery an' reid)
that were bonnie, sae monie weemen telt me.

II. n. 1. A partial thaw, a relaxing of hard frost.Ags. 1808 Jam.:
When the ice melts, although there be no proper thaw, it is said to be owing to the yield of the day.

2. Phr. the yield o' the knee, the popliteal space, the hollow at the back of the knee (Fif. 1899 Proc. Philos. Soc. Gsw. XXXI. 39).