Sc. and dial. Also 9 ween, wain, wane. [A contraction of wee ane: (see WEE a. and ONE), the full form still appearing in the first group of quotations. In the northeastern Sc. counties the equivalent little ane has similarly given littlan, littlen.] A young child.
α. 1692. [see WEE a.].
1721. Ramsay, Poems, I. Gloss. 397. Wean, or wee ane, a Child.
1755. Johnson, s.v., Wee, In Scotland it denotes small or little; as wee ane, a little one, or child.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 6. The name the wean [1789 weeane] gat, was Helenore.
a. 1774. Fergusson, Hallow-Fair, viii. Than there’s sic yellowchin and din, Wi’ wives and wee-anes gablin.
β. 1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., II. iii. When Bessy Freetock’s chuffy-cheeked We’an To a Fairy turn’d. Ibid. (1728), Anacreontic on Love, 8. A poor young Wean.
1786. Burns, Inventory, 52. Wi’ weans I’m mair than weel contented, Heav’n sent me ane mae than I wanted! Ibid. (1789), To Dr. Blacklock, 52. To make a happy fire-side clime To weans and wife, That’s the true pathos and sublime Of human life.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., iv. There was my daughter’s wean, little Eppie Daidle.
1822. Galt, Provost, xxiv. The major part were sailors’ wives and weans.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Gloss., Weens, children. Little ones. ‘How are the weens?’
1826. J. Wilson, Noctes Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 175. Returnin back hame, the wife and weans were a’ at the door.
1841. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Nell Cook, end. So bless the Queen and her Royal Weans.
1856. Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, III. 927. I being but a yearling wean.
1887. P. M’Neill, Blawearie, 85. Here comes that great grumpus crying like a wane once more.
1900. Seumas MacManus, in Century Mag., Feb., 601/2. But poor Shamus he had a wife an’ a congregation of wains on his han’s.
