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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HENT, v.², n. Also hint. [Sh. hɛnt, hɪnt, Ork. hɪnt]

I. v. 1. To gather, glean, pick up, collect (Sh. 1825 Jam.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1957); to snatch away (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Vbl.n. hentin, a gathering together, that which has been gathered together (Jak.). Also fig.Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sk. and Poems 110:
Ta see da wy ät da folk hentit da broth, an' maet, an' taaties, an' sconns, an' brünies inta demsells.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (15 Jan.):
Girzzie wis geen i' da lodie ta hent up da denner tatties as I made ta geng i' da barn.Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 132:
A'm seen me lootan at id an' hintan rips fill tings wad mir afore me e'en.Sh. 1953 New Shetlander No. 36. 16:
O fur a linnin o' wir backs Frae hentin stonns on Lödi.

2. To spirit away, to cause to vanish, as if by supernatural power (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); intr. or refl. to take oneself off, steal away quietly, to disappear, vanish (I.Sc. 1957). Ppl.adj. hintet, carried off by fairies, bewitched (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), hence hintet-like, of a person, peculiar, “touched” (Ib.).Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 9:
Oot o dis wi dee! Hent disell!! Heckle noo! Flitt!Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 79:
Whin a body lays a thing oot o' der haand i' da hoos, hits da sam' as if hit wis hinted.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
When he saw her coman, he hinted (himsel) awa' oot tae the barn.

II. n. A gathering together (of something) (Ork. 1957).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
I'm [I have] had me a hent, I have been out, raking the hay (the grass, spread out for drying) together.