Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1880-1931, 1993
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AFFGAUN, adj. and n. (Also in the forms: affgaain', aff-gan, afga'in, affgoing.) (See also Offgoing.)
1. adj. (1) Of a tenant: Outgoing, leaving.Bnff.2 1928:
Affgain' (affgyain').
(2) Worse for wear. (Cf. 2. n. (1) last example.)Ork.(D) 1880 W. T. Dennison Orc. Sk. Bk. 52:
Hinegreenie's boat wus auld, shakan' an' lakan', an' a' his boat graith auld an' aff-gan.
2. n. (1) Departure; fading away; death.Sc. 1911 S.D.D.:
Aff-going, departure; death.Abd.9 1931:
Affga'in, death.Ags. 1993 Mary McIntosh in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 112:
He hearkened tae the kirk bells dingin oot the auld year. Guid bluidy affgaun this.Ayr.5 1931:
Affgoing, withering.
(2) Start, outset. (See also Affgo, Offgo.)Sh.4 1931:
I' da affgaain dey brook a oar.Lnk. 1885 Gordon Pyotshaw 117:
It wad fit him better tae mak' awa' wi' that d — d fower-in-hand, at the first aff-gaun.
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"Affgaun adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/affgaun>
