Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JING, n.¹ Also jeengs (Gsw. 1950 H. W. Pryde McFlannel Family Affairs 65). Sc. equivalent of Eng. (by) jingo, usu. found only in the asseveration jings, by jing(s), a mild expletive. Gen.Sc. Also phr. like jing, as quick as lightning. Cf. Jingle, n.²Ayr. 1785 Burns Halloween ix.:
While Willie lap, an' swoor by jing, It was just the way he wanted To be that night.Slg. 1841 R. M. Stuart Harp of Strila 62:
They cut the figure eight like jing, Then roun' and roun' gang sweein'.Sc. 1955 J. Beith The Corbies 118:
“Jings, but it's unco' hot,” he exclaimed, mopping his heated countenance.Gsw. 1985 Michael Elder Stookie 32:
And Big Harper's lassie was there. Eve. Lassie! Jings, with that spiky hair she looked more like one of those great lizard things that used to live on the earth millions of years ago, ... Sc. 1989 Scotsman (1 Dec) 12:
A long-overdue Scottish alternative to the ever-popular "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie - Out, out, out!" was included. It runs Crivvens, jings and help ma boab, let's pit Thatcher oot o' a job. But despite the clear cultural link with Oor Wullie, this failed to catch on among the demonstrators and the old favourite remained No 1. Sc. 1993 Herald (28 May) 18:
I didn't just jouk into pubs and golf clubs and the like and say "Jings! We're fae The Herald and tell us aboot ..." I just enjoyed myself and listened and talked myself a bit. Fif. 1994 Nellie Watson in Joan Watson Memories and Reflections: An East Neuk Anthology 9:
Tae end my tale there's just one thing
That I'll noo tell ye, folk -
Yon laddie in the cairt? - By jings! -
I'm mairrit tae the 'bloke'! Edb. 1998 Gordon Legge Near Neighbours (1999) 23:
'By jings,' said Auntie Teen, 'what a fine figure of a man you've turned out to be, Henry. ... ' ne.Sc. 1998 Press and Journal (9 Oct) 5:
Jim Wilken, of Raeffin, Keith, said: "It's nothing to shout about, and by jings they will need a lot more cuts before they bring down the value of the pound, which would help us ... Sc. 2001 Sunday Herald (9 Dec) 10:
He has now produced another massive and lavishly illustrated volume of the minutiae of the club, called Everygame, and, by jings he means it. Sc. 2002 Sun 31 Jul:
I've long held a theory that there are so many hearty Scots weathergirls on UK-wide TV stations not for what they say, but for what they don't say. What they don't say is: "You think it's bad for you? Take a look up the weathermap. See that big black cloud? See the slashing rain? See that bolt of lightning? Well THAT'S WHERE I LIVE. By jings, you've got it soft. Sc. 2002 Scotsman (30 Aug) 12:
Apparently, 5,000 pets carried by airlines are lost or killed annually - jings. If you want rid of an ugly pet with an unfortunate nature or smelly breath, just book it a holiday abroad.