Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1882-1949
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0]
GAAN, v. Also ga(w)n. To stare, gaze vacantly or with open mouth (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1922 J. Firth Reminisc. 151, gan, 1929 Marw., Sh., Ork.5 1953); to peer, look intently (Sh. 1901 T. P. Ollason Mareel 80, gawn), to crane the neck, staring vacantly (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); to stare insolently (Ib., Ork.1 1944, gan). [gɑ:n]Sh. 1882 Gentleman's Mag. 361:
"A cat gaanin i' da lift," that is, looking into the sky, foretells wind.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vi. 223:
Patie steud ganan at 'im a peerie meenit.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl. s.v. air:
Whartu is du staandin gaanin up idda air lek a moniment?Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 20:
I just turned me hed an' gaand at a pikter apo da waa.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gaan v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gaan>
