Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

SINNIE, n.¹ Also sinn(e)y, sinee, seeny, seenie, sunny. Sc. forms of Eng. senna (Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 265; Sh., Ork., Bnff. 1970). Comb. sinny-leaf, id. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); seenie pods, Sc. form of Eng. senna pod; sunny, sinny-tay, -tea, (an infusion of) senna. [′sɪne]Rnf. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 39:
But mention Poetry, they'll gaunt An' gloom, as gin't war Sinee.Abd. 1886 Northern Figaro (31 July) 10:
Tae tak' a dose o' salts an' sinney.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 41:
Drink a muckle jougfu' o' sauts an' sinny.Rxb. 1922 Kelso Chron. (6 Jan.) 4:
“Sunny” leaves which were “masked” like tea.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 93:
Haf a pound o' sinnie tay fur da kaff. Gsw. 1972 Molly Weir Best Foot Forward (1974) 51:
For lazy bowels, my mother's favourite cure was senna pods, or 'seenie pods' as we called them.