Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HAITHEN, adj., n. Also haethin; haythen.

I. adj. Used = Eng. heathen, hence = outlandish, incomprehensible (Sh., Uls. 1956).Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
An' fat kin' o' a state o' haithen ignorance cud they but be in wi' sic a man as Ferdie Ellis i' the poopit.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 33:
Hit 'ill laekly be A La Pot Pourri or som' haethin title laek dat.

II. n. Used as in Eng. and also applied in Sh. to an intractable or difficult person or thing (Sh., Ork., Uls. 1956).Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 83:
If doo hed da kantankeris haethins ta dael wi' it dey hae, doo wid be daft in a week.Edb. 1988:
Ye drunken haithen, ye!