Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1711-1760, 1817, 1932, 2000
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POWAN, n. Also powen, poan. A freshwater fish, Coregonus elupeoides, found in Scotland only in Loch Lomond and Loch Eck (Sc. 1808 Jam., 1896 N.B. Daily Mail (9 June) 5; Slg. 1903 E.D.D.; wm.Sc. 1966). [′pʌuən]Dmb. 1711 J. Chamberlayne Pres. State Scot. 74:
This Lake abounds with Fish of several sorts, and with one sort call'd Poans, and by some Pollacks, which is peculiar to this Lake, and very delicious to eat, being a kind of Eel.Sc. 1760 R. Pococke Tours (S.H.S.) 63:
Powens, which are a sort of white fish, a kind of fresh water herring, and not very good.Dmb. 1817 J. Walker Poems 111:
What shoals o' powans scatter'd wide.Dmb. 1932 H. Lamond Days & Ways 83:
The vendace is a survival from post-glacial times, like the . . . powan of Loch Lomond and Loch Eck.Sc. 2000 Herald (20 Jan) 10:
Powan, a protected species, gather each January to reproduce in shallow waters just off Drumkinnon Bay in Balloch. The breeding ground is a few metres away from the planned site for Lomond Shores. Sc. 2000 Herald (20 Jan) 10:
Powan, similar to herring but more closely related to salmon, is only found in one other location - Loch Eck in Argyll.
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"Powan n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/powan>
