Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

OWEREND, v., adj. Also owre-end, o'er-en(d) (Jam.). Cf. Arend. [ʌu(ə)r′ɛnd]

I. v. To turn up, set on end (Lth. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.), to tip up; to (cause to) turn end over end, to be turned topsy-turvy (Lth., Ayr. 1825 Jam.; I.Sc., Abd., Ags., Kcb., Rxb., Uls. 1964).Gall. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 202:
I could hear the muckle amrie, stenning an' o'erenning down the brae, a' the way to the Mar-burn, whar it fizzed in the water like a red hot gad o' airn.Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.:
A very tall man died in a flat up a very narrow stair . . . and his weeping widow watched the bearers trying in vain to get the coffin borne down in the usual position. At last she wiped away her tears and gave them the practical advice, “Canna ye ower-end him?”Slk. 1875 Border Treasury (23 Jan.) 305:
“Just owre-end me, callants,” — that is, pull out the pin and let the cart tilt up.Rxb. 1884 W. Brockie Yetholm Gypsies 99:
“Owre-ending the tree,” a feat performed by throwing a beam of wood off the right foot into the air, he being considered the most expert and strongest man who makes it turn the greatest number of times before it reaches the ground.

II. adj. 1. Of a person: upright, on one's feet; of the hair: on end, standing up (Sh. 1964).Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 105:
Berry wis still apo' da flüer, wi' his hair owerend.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 28:
“Na,” shu says (as shu wan owerend) “A'm no [hurt], bit I micht a bune.”

2. Excited, excitable, scatter-brained (Sh. 1964); cocky, bumptious (Ib.). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sh. 1959 New Shetlander No. 51. 29:
Be you tankfil at der nae lambs or fül ower-end dugs apo da rod.