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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLAND, Blaand, Blaund, n. and v. [blɑ(:)nd]

1. n.

(1) Whey mixed with water, a drink used in the Shetland Islands. Given for Sh. by Edm. Gl. (1866), Jak. (1908), Angus Gl. (1914) s.v. blaand.Sh. 1774 G. Low Tour thro' Ork. and Sh. (1879) 104:
Bland, or the serum of Buttermilk separated by heat, is much used as a drink.Sh. 1914 J. M. E. Saxby in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. VII. ii. 70:
Blaund, whey of buttermilk. The whey is allowed to reach the fermenting, sparkling stage. Beyond that it becomes flat and vinegary. “Soor blaund” is a delicious and quenching drink, and used to be in every cottage for common use. It is what fashionable doctors recommend for consumptives under the name of the “sour whey cure.”Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 22:
"I'm travelin to Levenwick" he said "and I'm finnin it's a lang wye fae Scalloway. I'd be blyde of a drink of blaand if you had it - an I can pay for all I need."Ork. 1929 Marw.:
‡Bland, a mixture of milk and water (or whey and water) used as a drink.

(2) “Mixture; quantity of diff. things mingled together” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).

2. v. “To mix, to blend” (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Given as obs. in N.E.D.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Bland. To mix up stories, to confuse tales.

Comb.: blanded bear. (See quot.)Sc. 1763 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 117:
The boll of Blanded Bear-£7 7s.Fif. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XII. 531:
Blanded bear, or rammel, as the country people here call it, is the produce of barley and common bear sown in a mixed state.