Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BURN-THE-WIND, BURNEWIN, Burniwind, n. phr. “A cant term for a blacksmith” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff.², Abd.², Ags.¹, Fif.¹⁰, Lnk.³ 1937). [′bʌrnðəwɪ̢n(d), ′bʌrnɪ̢-wɪn(d), -wʌn]Sc. 1830 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 423:
Like auld Vulcan Burniwind fashionin swurds, spears . . . for Achilles.Ags. 1875 Brechin Advertiser (20 April) 4/4:
And their faces get blazin' red like burn-the-wind's iron when it's het.Knr. 1886 “H. Haliburton” Horace in Homespun 92:
There's Burn-the-wind — he's nearhand faintit Ca'in' a shoe on!Ayr. 1786 Burns Scotch Drink x.:
Then Burnewin comes on like Death At ev'ry chap