Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1747-1823
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MEAN, v., n. Sc. forms. Pa.t.: mean'd, meant, meent (Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 70); meint (Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 203); vbl.n. meanen (Uls. 1892 A. McIlroy Lint in the Bell v.); maenin (Ayr. 1838 J. Morrison McIlwham Papers 17).
Sc. †usages:
I. v. 1. To say, to declare. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1747 Lyon in Mourning (S.H.S.) II. 218:
They flockt about him like bee hives And humbly meant they'd risk their lives . . . To serve his highness.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) I. 192:
Only his factor, who prov'd a friend And how to act Miss to him mean'd.
2. With at: to take steps to secure, to aim at, have ambitions for. Obs. in Eng.Dmf. 1823 Love Letters T. Carlyle (1909) I. 306:
My Mother says “they that meaned at a gowden gown got aye the sleeve”.
II. n. Meaning, in comb. mean-taiken. See Mair, adj., III. 16. and Taiken.
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"Mean v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/mean_v_n>
