Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1880-1962
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MAIN, n.2 Also mains; erron. mani (Ork. 1903 E.D.D.). Patience, self-restraint (Ork. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 96, note, Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1962). Hence deriv. mainless, impatient, restive, impetuous (Ork.1 1946; I.Sc. 1962); purposeless, disorganised. Adv. mainlessly. [mɛ:in]Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 24:
Bit he wus aye a hurried mainless man; an' trath he paid for his want o' main that time.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
[He] had no main (or mains) tae wait.Ork. 1930 Orcadian (13 Feb.):
In a harvest like this, when . . . the rain it raineth every day . . . to be mainless would never do.Ork.1 1946:
Main(s) = patience, mainless = impatient, sometimes applied to a horse that is stamping with impatience to get away.Ork.5 1962:
He was wandering mainlessly about. Sheu was a mainless kind o' body.
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"Main n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/main_n2>
