Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FARLAN, n. Also farlane, farlen, fa(a)rlin, farland. A long box or trough in fish-curing yards into which herrings are emptied for gutting (Sh., n.Sc., Fif., Bwk. 1951).Abd. 1861 J. Davidson Poems 67:
Ilk' rigwudy quean frae the farlin' Will keek oot her phiz an' guffa.Sc. 1884 W. S. Miln Herring Fishing 12:
A large square box, or tank, called a “farlin,” i.e. a repository for the herrings, where they are “roused,” and await the process of gutting.Sh. 1911 R. J. Duthie Art of Fishcuring 10:
There should be passages between the ends of the farlands, to allow the women to carry herrings to the opposite side of the yard.Sh. 1934 W. Moffatt Shetland 116:
Their bodies and hands swing with an uninterrupted rhythm as they stoop to pick up a fish from the farlin, gut it with one quick flash of the knife, in the act of getting partly erect, and fling it behind them, all in one continuous, harmonious motion.Bnff. 1950 N. Paterson Behold Thy Daughter 31:
In the yards, themselves, there was tremendous bustle as each new load was heaved indiscriminately into the great tubs or farlins.