Den

Source : Wright, Joseph English Dialect Dictionary
web : https://eddonline4-proj.uibk.ac.at/edd/main.html

DEN, sb. and v. Sc. Irel. Nhb. Cum. [den.] 1. sb.
A dell, glen, a deep hollow between hills.
Sc. Dells, glens, or, as they are... termed, dens, Scott Antiquary
(1816) xvii. n.Sc. I was making my way through the den and the
birch trees below Keuchnakerran, Gordon Carglen (1891) 198.
Bnff. One of his favourite spots was the Den and quarries of
Rubislaw, Smiles Natur. (1876) i. Abd. In some deep den among
the broom And whins, Anderson Rhymes (1867) 146. Kcd. Your
father there shall ride nae mair, But tether Dobbin in the den,
Jamie Muse (1844) 20. Frf. I'd ken that ugly mou again, Tho' I
saw'd in the Seaton den, Sands Poems (1833) 81. Fif. Rab...
went down the den for wood, Meldrum Margrédel (1894) 151.
Slg. I... spied a dun tod, cannily Mak' for the hazel den, Towers
Poems (1885) 54. Rnf. Within my sylvan den I'd hae vexations
even there, Young Pictures (1865) 144. Ayr. Her banks an' braes,
her dens an' dells, Burns To W. Simpson (1785) st. 10. Lnk. I...
wander'd through ilk fairy den, Lemon St. Mungo (1844) 16.
Bwk. Croodlin' cushats closer thrang Adoon the den, Chisholm
Poems (1879) 103. Dmf. Listen the mavis while roamin' Away
amang fairy-like dens, Reid Poems (1894) 44. Kcb. I hameward
hied frae oot the dens, Armstrong Ingleside (1890) 134. Nhb.1
Cum. Linton Lake Cy. (1864) 315.
2. The ‘home’ or ‘base’ in boys' games; the place of
safety. Sc. (A.W.), N.I.1, Nhb.1, w.Yks. (J.T.) Cf. dale,
sb. 3, dell, sb. 2.
3. A dark cellar in a mill building. N.I.1
4. The place where the scythe is laid into the sned. Nhb.1
5. v. To hide, lurk, to take shelter in a den; to run to
cover.
Sc. Erewhile the hare denned close from view, Cunningham
Sngs. (1813) 18. Ayr. Hae ye ony ark... where a body might
den himself, Galt Entail (1823) liii. s.Sc. She denned at last in
a scrogye buss, Watson Border Bards (1859) 110; Where foxes
denned became a mead, WATSON Border Bards 205. Lth. Foxie's owre gleg for
him! ─ he's denned, Strathesk More Bits (ed. 1885) 138. Slk.
His head neath his daidle he dens, Currie Musings (1863) 165.
Rxb. (JAM.)
6. To fit a scythe to the sned or handle.
Nhb.1 Git that scythe denn'd as sune as ivvor ye can.
[The same word as OE. denn, habitation of a wild beast.]

A glossary of words and phrases pertaining to the dialect of Cumberland by Dickinson, William, 1799?-1882 Publication date 1878-79

Publisher London Published for the English Dialect Society by Trübner