Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GIRDIN(G), n. Also -en, -an.

1. A saddle-girth (Per. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh.¹⁰ 1954).Abd. 1705 T. Mair Ellon Rec. (1898) 292:
The girding string of the saddle breaking, she lighted.Ayr. 1788 Burns Duncan Gray ii.:
The girdin brak, the beast cam down, I tint my curch and baith my shoon.

2. A rope, esp. one used for binding round something (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 63, girdan; Abd.²⁷ 1954). Comb. cairt-girdan (Ib.), -girden, see Cairt, n.¹ (4).Abd. 1992 David Toulmin Collected Short Stories 173:
Great thick girdins that would rope a cart load of hay or straw.