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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LINEN, n. Also †linnen, †lin(n)in(g). Sc. usages:

1. In pl.: linen clothes, one's linen, i.e. shirts, undergarments, etc. (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scotticisms 51; Sh. 1961); grave-clothes, a shroud, winding-sheet (Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Cai., Ags. 1961).Sc. 1707 R. Wodrow Analecta (M.C.) I. 117:
The body being laid upon the bed, and dressed up in deed-linnings.Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 191:
I'll slip hame, and wash my feet, And steal on linens fair and clean.Sc. 1743 Edb. Commiss. Test. MSS. CVII.:
Marjoribanks's body cloaths and linnens.Ayr. 1790 Burns O Merry hae I been ii.:
Bless'd be the hour she cool'd in her linnens.Sc. 1799 H. Mitchell Scotticisms 51:
I have sent my linens to be washed.I.Sc. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
I was standin' i' my bare linins.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 50:
Come ben, thay said, come ben afore he's pitten
in his lang hame, come ben nou whan ye're bidden
tae pey yir last respecks; he luks the same
as aye he did. The coffin lik a frame
limned oot the corp, aw in the linins hidden.

Deriv. ¶linener, a linen shirt.Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 28:
Warkmen's wives 'ill clout an' wash Their guidman's dirty cottin trash — While lineners maun thole the lash.

†2. The coarse linen shirt worn by penitents in Church during rebuke.Sc. 1883 in D. Graham Writings II. 20:
The “sacken sark” had a variety of names, such as “the harden gown,” “the sack gown”, “the harn gown,” and “the linen”.