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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHAN, v.2 Also shawn- (Watson). A variant of Sham, v.1, to make a wry face, to grimace. Hence comb. shan-chinned, -gabbit, shawn gabbit, -mow'd, having a wry or twisted chin or mouth, having the lower lip protruding beyond the upper, of persons or animals, e.g. sheep (Rxb. 1942 Zai; Fif., w.Lth., wm. and sm.Sc. 1970), also in reduced form shan (Zai). Also in deriv. forms shannie (-faced), id., lantern-jawed (Slk. c.1930). [ʃɑn]Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce III. ix.:
Like the Whippitie-stourie, shangie, shan-chinned, short-hoggers elf that ye are.
Slk. 1824 Hogg Tales (1874) 518:
A' the rest shanned and noddit in assent an' approbation.
Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 151:
How brainless dundrums sneer an' wink, An' shan' an' shile, and leering blink.
Abd. 1904 E.D.D.:
Man, gin ye pairt wi' ony mair o' yer teeth, ye'll be fair shan-gabbit. She's auld an' shan-gabbit noo that was aince sae blithe an' bonny.
Sc. 1925 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 277:
The skranky-shilpit an' pernickety “Keelvingsighed, 'Ow-de-dow” kin o' shangabbit wey thae wad-be's yabble when they ope their mealy-mou's.
m.Sc. 1990 Douglas Lipton in Hamish Whyte and Janice Galloway New Writing Scotland 8: The Day I Met the Queen Mother 61:
Salmon Shawn-gabbit? - Ye want tae ken why Ah'm shawn-gabbit? Weel, it's no' aw that howkin' an' yankin' that gans oan, onywey. Nae chaunce. It's a sulk. A pettit lip.

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"Shan v.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/shan_v2>

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