Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BOON, BOONE, n. A band of reapers, shearers, turf-cutters, or other workers. The word is still known and used in Uls. [bun]Sc. 1777 Weekly Mag. (8 May) 201:
In a Ha'rst day to see them cowing down the corn in a boon.Sc. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VII. 303:
The absurd nonsense of a boon of shearers, i.e. reapers, being turned into large grey stones on account of their kemping, i.e. striving.Ayr. 1844 Anon. in Ayrsh. Wreath II. 104:
And kemp a while as fast and sair As ye did in the boon, To me yon day.Dmf. 1817 W. Caesar Poems 93:
To see the wifies, ane, twa, three, The muir rin down, And you yoursel' to tak the gee, And leave the boon.Rxb. 1870 J. Thomson Doric Lays and Lyrics 5:
For no a pair in a' the boon Wi' Rab an' me could shear.Uls. 1866 H. M'D. Flecher Poems, etc. 67:
A boone attacks a golden field In bright September's morn; And keen the glancing hooks they wield, And fast they fell the corn.

Comb.: boon-dinner, the dinner given on a harvest field to a band of reapers.Sc. 1820 Blackw. Mag. VII. 375:
The youths and maidens . . . gathering round a small knoll by the stream, with bare head and obedient hand, awaited a serious and lengthened blessing from the goodman of the boon-dinner.