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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

THRAIN, n., v. Also thren(e); threen. [θren]

I. n. 1. A sad refrain, dirge, lamentation; any song or refrain. Now only liter.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin iv.:
It did naething but mourn even on an' the thrain was never oot o' its head.Edb. 1883 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) VI. 112:
Ill do sic wanton thrains Become the holy name.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 171:
The thren of the dove, and the owl, and the bat.

†2. A traditional adage or assertion, any superstitious tradition (Per. 1825 Jam., threne).

II. v. †1. To lament, mourn.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 184:
Late and weary, ae nicht leaning Owre deein' embers, Kate sat threening.

2. To harp constantly on a theme, to ask insistently and importunately, to nag (Fif. 1972), tr. and intr. Vbl.n. thrainin, nagging, harping on, a nagging, persistent pain.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xvi.:
The very article I had been thrainin' aboot for mony lang.Fif. 1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers 84:
Twa or three youngsters hingin' at their mither's apron string, an' thrainin' wi' her for a puddin'.Fif. 1897 S. Tytler Lady Jean's Son xiv.:
My mother's thraining and yammering from morning to night.Fif. 1949:
An old woman is periodically afflicted by a thrainin aboot the hert.