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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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MURN, v., n. Also murne (Sc. 1903 E.D.D.); ¶moorn (Abd. 1924 M. Angus Tinker's Road 9). Gen.Sc. forms and usages of Eng. mourn. Hence murner, a mourner (Kcb. 1913 Rymour Club Misc. II. 67, Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 138; Lnk. 1923 G. Rae 'Mang Lowland Hills 43); murn(e)fu(l), mournful (e.Lth. 1905 J. Lumsden Croonings 175; Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). [mʌrn]

I. v.

Sc. form of Eng. mourn. Also vbl.n. murnin. m.Sc. 1979 Tom Scott in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 88:
Them that are leesit the tentin-o this land
Made - and murned - this music.
Deil tak aa defeat that dang the daed,m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 68:
Yince mair I scouk up tae the auld year's turnin
an luk back skelly on the twalmonth gane,
ma saul a-swither atween joy an shame
that here I pleiter on for aw ma girnin
when better men hae pit thair freens tae murnin.

Sc. usages:

1. As in Eng. Vbl.n. murnin(g): (1) in Sc. usage always in pl., the black garments worn to show grief, mourning (Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1765 Trial of K. Nairn 159:
When the mournings came home upon occasion of Eastmiln's death.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie ii.:
The total wreck and destruction of all the unfinished bravery of mournings which lay scattered around.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 132:
Wi' a lang hat-crape hanging down your back, when you wasna in murnins.Sc. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scot. 662:
A widow has a legal claim to mournings for her husband.Fif. 1895 S. Tytler Kincaid's Widow xv.:
Forby, to stay in the toon is more convenient for murnins as well as for bridal braws.Per. 1903 H. MacGregor Souter's Lamp 107:
If the Gauger catched the two o' them, the Glen wad maybe no' be long in murnin's.Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 58:
The Miss Farquharsons are tall and thin, very genteel-lookin', dressed in blacks — no' deep blacks, just second murnings, like.Edb. 1931 E. Albert Herrin' Jennie 25:
Ye've bocht braw mournings off the money that micht 'a' buried him.

(2) Combs.: (i) murnin hem, jocularly applied to the inner rim of a tea-cup left exposed from the level of the tea to the lip of the cup, gen. used to imply that not enough tea has been served in the cup, orig. from the white hem, cuff or edging on a black mourning garment (Per., Slg., w.Lth., Lnk. 1975); also transf. of dirty fingernails (Fif., Dmf. 1975), (ii) murnin letter, a black-edged letter inviting one to attend a funeral (Arg. 1930; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Edb., Ayr., Kcb. 1963). Cf. Funeral, Sc. combs. (2); (iii) mourning strings, a sash or streamer of black material worn round the waist or round the hat as a sign of mourning.(ii) Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 110:
"It's a murnin letter," said she looking at the epistle.(iii) Slg. 1703 Slg. Burgh Rec. (1889) 99:
Appointes the treasurer to buye four mourning strings to the toune officers against Saturnday next, which they are to wear above their belts that day upon account of the funerals of the deceast John Stivensone, provost.Rnf. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 48:
Put on a mourning string, Since he's awa that yer bell did ring.

2. intr. To complain, to show resentment, to grumble. Gen.Sc.; specif. of cattle: to low mournfully from hunger or illness (Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Sh., Cai. 1963).Rnf. 1865 J. Young Homely Pictures 13:
I hae a richt to hirp an' murn Oure that death-dealin' blast.Knr. 1895 H. Haliburton Dunbar 56:
He's no' to maen, he needna murn Wha has enow to serve his turn.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 10:
Sol's reid pow keeked ower the hill, An' he forgot tae murn!

II. n. 1. A mourning, lamentation, in phr. to mak (a) murn for or ower, to lament, bewail (Abd. 1963).Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 226:
I'm no ane that cares for makin' muckle molligrant, till I've something worth while tae mak murn for.m.Lth. 1886 R. F. Hardy Within a Mile viii.:
It's mair, to ma mind, like makin' a murn ower't.

2. Fig.: the murmuring sound made by running water.Fif. 1811 C. Gray Poems 45:
The bick'rin' burn, In curlin' eddies gently played, Wi' pleasin mourn.Per. 1893 Harp Per. (Ford) 297:
An' through the pools whaur they used to wade, The water rins by wi' a waefu' murn.