Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1789, 1862-1893, 1991
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TRUAN, n. Also trooan, -en (Lnk. 1890 N. Coghill Poems 84); trowan (Gsw. 1878 W. Penman Echoes 26), -en; truint (Lth. 1885 J. Strathesk More Bits 134); trone (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 452, Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 157; Per. 1973). A trowel, as used by gardeners or masons (Sc. 1825 Jam., trowen; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 272; Sh., em.Sc.(a), Dmb., Rxb. 1973); a float for smoothing cement or plaster (Fif., Dmb. 1973). [′truən]Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 38:
The De'il being naething but a cowan, To make him free o' plumb an' trowan.Gsw. 1862 J. Gardner Jottiana 87:
An' then the lines at jints o' stanes The pint o' trowen smoothly planes.Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xvi.:
Your hat's i' the boddam o' the lade there wi' my trooan in the croon o't.Sc. 1991 John McDonald in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 90:
whaur yince, the breid o life wis broken
fir an untholeable luve;
whaur, yince again, chiels pit bye net an truan,
heuk an hemmer; tae gether ablow a licht -
that micht hae been anither birth.
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"Truan n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/truan>
