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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BEHIN, BEHINT, Behunt, Behine, prep. and adv. Behind. May be used for Ahin, q.v., in all cases except perhaps Ahin, 3. The quots. illustrate the different forms. [bɪ′hɪn(t), -′hɪ̢n(t) Sc., -′hʌn(t) Arg., -′həin Uls.]Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 232:
Leave welcome aye behint you.
Arg. (Southend) 1932 (per Arg.1):
I tried tae hide behunt a big boady in the sate afront o' me.
Ayr. 1786 Burns To his Auld Mare vii.:
An' ran them till they a' did wauble, Far, far behin'.
Uls. 1910 C. C. Russell People and Language of Uls. 26:
The Ulsterman will . . . either cut off the “d” or replace it by a “t.” Thus the word “behind” may either be called “behine” or “behint.”

Phr. behind backs, (1) in the rear of anything, not so far forward; (2) clandestinely, not openly.(1) Slk. c.1817 Hogg Works (1865) 338:
Tibby was sitting behind backs enjoying the meal.
(2) Slg.3 1934:
You must not do anything behind backs.

[O.Sc. has behind(e), behynd(e), beheind, beheynd, behund, behint from 1375 onwards. For the loss of d cf. Sc. fin for find, kin for kind, bin for bind. Behine has been influenced by St.Eng. pronunciation.]

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"Behin prep., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/behin>

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