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.
Quotation dates: 1804-1905
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YIRN, v.2, n.1 Also ye(a)rn; yurn. [jɪrn, jʌrn]
I. v. 1. To whine, whimper, of a dog; of persons: to wail, grumble, complain (Lnk., Gall. 1882 Jam.; Kcb. 1900, yurn; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., yern; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Wgt. 1974). Ppl.adj. yearnin, peevish (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 222).Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poetry II. 91:
The tykes they yearn and yowl.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 239:
Weel may ye greet and yurn and bibble.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xi. 13:
Nae mair sal Ephraim yirn at Judah.
2. To make grimaces, to distort the face.Wgt. 1905 E.D.D.:
He yirned and struck back when I hit him.
II. n. A complaint, a whine (Wgt. 1974); “applied to the whimpering fretfulness of a sickly child” (Lnk., Gall. 1882 Jam., yurn).Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms xxxviii. 9:
O Lord, afore thee is a' my yirn.Fif. 1896 G. Setoun R. Urquhart xxvi.:
The prayer o' the Pharisee was mair worthy than sic a yirn and yelp as yours.
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