Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1813-1864, 1948
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DEAFEN, v. Gen.Sc. usage in architecture: to make a building sound-proof by pugging.Sc. c.1814 T. Somerville Life (1861) 337:
Few of the floors were deafened or plastered.
Hence vbl.n. deafening, the process of making sound-proof; the materials used for this purpose.Sc. 1864 Glasgow Herald (9 April):
The heavy load of earth which has been put in for deafening.Sc. 1948 Scotsman (14 May):
Houses of this nature have a high standard of sound immunity. They have walls two feet thick and a cavity beneath their floors, which is filled with ashes. In Scotland this construction is called "deafening"; in England, where it is not so frequent. it is known as "pugging."Gsw. 1813 J. Cleland Specifications Magdalenes Asylum 17:
The deafening boards are to be covered with deafening one inch and a half thick, prepared with an equal proportion of lime, smithy ashes, and river sand.
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"Deafen v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/deafen>
