Show Search Results Show Browse

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HOIDIN, n. Also hoiddin, hoyden (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); hoidien; hoideen, hoyd(d)een (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.); hoitien (Jak.). An I.Sc. tabu-name for a clergyman (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 10). [′hɔidin]Ork. 1884 R. M. Fergusson Rambles 165:
Ministers must not be spoken of either. They are mentioned as Upstanders, hoydeen, or prestingolva.
Sh. 1949 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 131:
The clergyman . . . was the beniman in one district, the hoidin in another.

[Orig. doubtful. Phs. ad. Dan. høvding, O.N. hǫfðingi, a chief man, a leader, but the phonology is difficult and there may have been confusion in form with Sh. Norn hoidin, Dan. høide, a height, summit, as if = one who stands high (in the pulpit). Cf. Upstander, id.]

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Hoidin n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hoidin>

14811

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: