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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†YEAN, v. tr. and absol., of a ewe: to bring forth (a lamb). Now only dial. in Eng. Ppl.adj. yeaned, vbl.n. yeaning. See also Eenie, Ingy. [jin]Mry. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ IX. 164:
When the ewes yean, many lambs die.Lnk. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ II. 184:
After yeaning time, the young were duly examined.Rnf. 1799 Edb. Weekly Jnl. (13 Nov.) II. 365:
A ewe, which yeaned two lambs in the month of March last, and other two on Thursday last week.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shep. Cal. (1874) xvi.:
One of the ewes went back to her native place, and yeaned on a wild hill. . . . The Crawmel shepherd, in going his rounds, found her with a new-yeaned lamb.Sc. 1865 A. Smith Summer in Skye (1936) 150:
The hills, yet wet with melted snows, are pathetic with newly-yeaned lambs.

Hence yeanling, n., a newly-born lamb (or kid) , also attrib.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 121:
The yeanling kids i' lion's dens sal lie.Slk. 1823 Blackwood's Mag. (Feb.) 179:
The yeanling would keep to its hole among the snow, or spot where its dam left it.