Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1702, 1795-1796, 1847-1927, 1988-1993
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JANUAR, n. Also ‡Janwar (Sh., n.Sc., Ags., Per.); Janavier, Janiveer (Ags.); and unreduced forms Janwary; Janavar(e)y (Abd. 1716 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. II. 10); Jenewarie (Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 250; Fif. 1959). Sc. forms of Eng. January. Also attrib.Wgt. 1702 Session Bk. Glasserton MS. (10 May):
Collected since the last distribution . . . Item Januar 4, 1702 . . . £1 3 6.Ayr. a.1796 Burns There was a Lad ii.:
'Twas then a blast o' Janwar' win' Blew hansel in on Robin.Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 139:
If the grass grow in Janiveer, 'Twill be the worse for't a the year.Ags. 1880 J. E. Watt Poet. Sk. 45:
Skelpin' through thick an' thin, frae Janwar' to June wi't.Bnff. 1927 E. S. Rae Hansel Fae Hame 57:
Syne Janwar's blufferts dang it owre Laich i' th' yird.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 33:
Yon muckle aik that stuid sae strang an ticht
bi yon byornar Januar blest wes bait. Abd. 1993 Sheena Blackhall in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 139:
Januar - spinnly branches
Wi their fingers aboot tae brier ...
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"Januar n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/januar>
