Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1705, 1831-1832, 1912-1915
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DEFLUCTION, DEFLUXION, n. A running at the eyes or nose which accompanies a cold; catarrh (Arg.1 1940, rare). Rare, obs., or dial. in Eng. Gen. used in Sc. in the sense of expectoration, phlegm (Slg.3, Fif.10 1940).Sc. 1705 in Analecta Scot. (ed. Maidment) II. 19:
His defluction rose so vehemently, that in half an hour it stifled him.Edb. 1915 J. Fergus Sodger, etc. (1916) 18:
He hoasted aye, his kist was sair, defluction nearly chok'd him.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 236:
[He] clears aff the defluxion Wi' a smoke this morn.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 54:
Jist tae clear the defluction awa'.
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"Defluction n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 11 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/defluction>
