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 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TINT, n.¹ Also taint. Proof, indication, testimony. Freq. in phr. tint nor trial, sign or vestige, report or trace, with regard to anything about which there is no information, no news of any kind. Now only liter.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 46, 51:
Tint nor tryal she had gotten nane Of her that first, or him had hindmost gane . . . “Nae tint not trial,” Lindy says, “I fand, Nor cud I hear o' her on onie hand.”Abd. 1844 W. Thom Rhymes 63:
The half-ta'en kiss, The first fond fa'in tear, Is tints o' heaven here.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
The beast's awa, and ye'll ne'er get tint or wittins o't.Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 38:
Afore the sheriff he'll gang straucht For taint and trial, and for slander.