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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.

OUTRUN, n., v. Also ootrun, -rin; utJak.). [n. ′utrʌn, v. ut′rʌn, ′-rɪn]

I. n. 1. A piece of outlying grazing land on an arable farm (I., n. and wm.Sc., Wgt. 1964). Also in Eng. dial.; ¶jocularly, by extension, an exposed part of the body, one of the extremities.Sth. 1870 Trans. Highl. Soc. (1880) 20:
The hill sheep used to have outruns of heather or other coarse pasture.Sh. 1898 Shetland News (3 Dec.):
The term “scathold” familiarly applied to the pasture-land, held in common with a certain number of other crofters, in distinction to the “outrun”, or enclosed arable land which surrounds the homestead, and over which each crofter has exclusive rights.Ork. 1934 E. Linklater Magnus Merriman xxix.:
Twenty-five acres of arable, and a small bit of outrun for sheep.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 87:
Shu wuush me frae truck ta keel aa in penny numbers, first ee leg an dan anidder, dan da aerms da sam wye, aye smootin every bit o' what I wid caa me ootrun anunder da claes as hit wis dune.Abd. 1955 Buchan Observer (8 March):
For Sale Turnips, to be eaten on land or carted off, out-run available.Highl. 1963 Scotsman (2 Sept.):
Croft extends to 2 acres 35 poles arable, 32 poles outrun, together with share in the common grazing; souming one cow and four sheep.

2. The way in which a dog runs out and round sheep in order to gather them for penning (Ork., sm. and s.Sc. 1964).Rxb. 1921 Kelso Chron. (12 Aug.) 2:
No. 16 was Fan, a nice stamp of a working collie. Her outrun was up to the mark.Gall. 1955 Gall. Gazette (1 Oct.) 6:
His dog “Garry” won the Rosebowl for the best outrun and lift.

3. Turn-out, appearance, attendance.Abd. 1904 Buchan Observer (26 July):
The outrun of hands for harvest engagement was very much in excess of the demand.

II. v. To run out. Rare and obs. in Eng.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 135:
[They] out-ran in thousands to the Scores.

Vbl.n. outrunning, ootrinnin, 1. of an hourglass: the act of running out; 2. in pl.: digressions, in telling a story; 3. the husks and light ears of grain which fall away when it is being winnowed (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). See Rin; 4. effusion, shedding (of tears).1. Bte. 1716 Rothesay T.C. Rec. (1935) II. 627:
The highest offer that wes made before the outrunning of the glass.Ayr. 1796 Maybole T.C. Minutes MS. (2 June):
The last and highest offerer for said Seat at the outrunning of the Sand in the Glass.Abd. 1801 Articles of Roup and Tack of Bell and Petty Customs (18 April):
The highest offerer at the outrunning of a sand glass, . . . shall be declared the gainer of the roup.2. Sh. 1923 Shetlander No. 3. 2:
I'm awfil fir ootrinnins, whin I geng ta tell a thing.4. Fif. 1814 W. Tennant Trottin' Nanny 4:
Nor stop the copious saut out-rinnins Frae ilk ee-lash.