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.
Quotation dates: 1908-1929
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KANT, n. 1. Opportunity, occasion.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
We got a fine kant to go in tae Kirkwall the day.
2. Humour, state of mind (Ib.; Sh. 1959).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
He was upo de wrang kant dis mornin'.
3. Manner of treating a person or of doing something, behaviour (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1959).
[Fig. meaning of Eng. cant = edge, slope, tilt, inclination. Cf. O.Sc. kant, ? edge, brink, a.1400.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Kant n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/kant>
