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.
GIRRAN, n. A small boil or pustule (Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Cai.8, Arg.3, ‡Ayr. 1954). Also guran (Sc. 1808 Jam.), girron (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 449, Kcb.4 1900), guiran (Arg. 1882 Argsh. Herald (3 June)), ¶gern (Ayr. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.), gurrag (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 74), gurry (Rs. 1911).Rnf. 1856 per wm.Sc.1:
Your father seems bothered very much with the girrans. . . . I hope when lanced he will get relief.
Hence guranie, adj., full of small boils (Cld. 1825 Jam.).
[Gael. guirean, a pimple, pustule, gur, festering, pimple, with alternative dim. endings -ag, -y.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Girran n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 27 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/girran>
