Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1825, 1922-1925
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‡GLOAN, GLONE, GLOWN, n. [glo:n]
1. "Substance, strength" (Jam.2); energy, "go" (Abd. 1954).Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 59:
Now, shou'd his courage hae nae better glown, . . . He'll tak' the taunt, an tamely sneak awa.Abd. 1825 Jam.:
"It has nae gloan", it has no substance.
2. "Excitement over some coveted possession" (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add., glone); "excessive anxiety" (Abd.6 1913). Phr.: to be in a gloan, to be in a state of excited eagerness or eager expectancy.Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 62:
'Twis Hallawe'en, an' . . . Tibbockie wis in a gloan tae dyang an' pu' her castick.Abd.7 1925:
When one looks forward to the receipt of some desired or coveted book or article of attire, we say of that person: "he wis in a glone for't", or "for its comin'".
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"Gloan n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gloan>
