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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WAIN, n., v. Also wane. [we(ə)n]

I. n. A waggon, a large open two- or later four-wheeled cart (Fif. 1973); †a railway waggon. Comb. wain-blade, the pole or shaft of a waggon. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. or poet.Sc. 1715 Lochlomond Expedition 42:
John Kinaird was bigging corn in the wain.Fif. 1719 G. Gourlay Anstruther (1888) 32:
Passable either by carts or wains.Sc. 1731 T. Boston Memoirs (1776) 108:
On Thursday came the wains with the household-furniture from Dunse.Abd. 1774 Abd. Journal (9 May):
Ten large Oxen fit for Wains.Rxb. 1780 Session Papers, Petition T. Stewart Testament 5:
Two axletrees, and a pair of wainblades, value 9s.Rxb. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ XI. 328 note:
A clumsy unwieldy carriage, upon 2 wheels, drawn by 2 oxen, and 2, or sometimes 4, horses, called a wain, was used merely for dragging dung to the fields, and bringing home corn, hay and wood.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xliv.:
She was awa again in the wain wi' Vich Ian Vohr's walise.Bnff. 1868 Trans. Bnf. Field Club (1939) 53:
Two engines 2 tenders and one wane.

II. v. To carry, convey in carriage, or the like. Poet. Obs. in Eng.Slk. 1814 Hogg Queen's Wake 179:
So swift they wained her through the light.