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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EARNIN, Earning, vbl.n. Also ernin (Sc. 1909 Colville 132–133; Ags.¹³ 1949). See also Yerning, id. [′ernɪn Sc., but Ags. ′ɪrnɪn]

1. Rennet, for curdling milk (w.Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Vocab. 23, earning; Sc. 1808 Jam., earning; Per. 1925 Wilson L. Strathearn; Fif. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot.; Lnl.¹ 1930; Ags.¹⁸, m.Lth.¹ 1949).Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. Agric. 276:
Many Cheeses are spoiled, by giving too great or too small a Proportion of Rennet or Earning to the Milk.Sc. 1846 Sc. Farmer (20 March) 96:
The rennet or earning is added to the milk, which is allowed to stand some time to coagulate.Ags. 1857 A. Douglas Hist. Ferryden 120:
“Dear me, Sandy, ye've drucken my haill bottle o' earnin I bocht fae Mr Addison just yesterday; and fat will I do, for the creatures are aye at me for cruds every day!”

2. The act of curdling with rennet; milk so curdled.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xi.:
They [whey brose] were a' made oot o' ae meal pock, an' a' oot o' ae whey — guid, fresh whey it was too, juist aff this mornin's earnin'.

3. Used attrib. in comb. earning grass, common butterwort, Pinguicula vulgaris (s.Sc. 1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scotica II. 1131, App.); so called because of its milk-curdling properties.