Keen

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

KEEN, sb.1 and v.1 Sc. Irel. Nhb. Also in forms caoine Wxf.; keena Ir.; keeneigh Uls.; keeny N.I.1; keine Ir.; kiony s.Don. [kīn.] 1. sb. A cry of lamentation over a corpse. Ir. They all raised the keena, Carleton Traits Peas. (ed. 1843) I. 104; Wid a keine out of her that riz the hair o' me away she glides, Yeats Flk-Tales (1888) 110. N.I.1 s.Ir. Croker Leg. (1862) 38. Wxf. ‘The name,’.. he observed, 'hes been enshrined in the caoine of a poor woman,’ Kennedy Banks Boro (1867) 269. 2. v. To wail over a corpse. Arg. There were four widows and five mothers wet faced, keening for five fine men, Munro Lost Pibroch (1896) 230. Ir. Other crowds they fell in with now and again, pacing slowly along, and these always had a heavy burden carried among them, and sometimes women keening, Barlow Lisconnel (1895) 222. N.I.1 When I heard the ban-shee it was just like an old woman keenying. Uls. (M.B.-S.) s.Ir. Croker Leg. (1862) 116. Wxf. At that time the custom of caoining was still in force, Kennedy Evenings Duffrey (1869) 83. Nhb. Keening was a custom formerly observed amongst the fisherwomen of Alnmouth, at a funeral of their own class, who, when the corpse was lifted, set up a dismal howl in concert, which was intended to be the finishing outburst to their grief (R.O.H.). Hence Keener, sb. a mourner at a wake. Ir. I never seen anything finer than the keeners at a berrin, Lover Leg. (1848) II. 360; Whilst the keeners were washing and stretching the corpse, Barrington Sketches (1830) II. v. 3. Of a dog: to cry, whine. s.Don. Simmons Gl. (1890). [1. Ir. caoine, a dirge, Irish cry or lamentation for the dead (O'Reilly).]

KEEN, sb.2 Sh.I. [kīn.] A steep piece of rock jutting out from the face of a cliff. Jakobsen Dial. (1897) 91; Sh.&Ork.1 [Norw. dial. kiun, the cheek, also the precipitous side of a mountain (Aasen); ON. kiun, the cheek (Vigfusson).]

KEEN, adj., sb.3 and v.2 Sc. Irel. Nhb. Cum. Wm. Yks. Lan. Chs. Stf. Der. Not. Lin. War. Wor. Hrf. Glo. [kīn]

1. adj. In comb. (1) Keen-bitten, eager, sharp; hungry; ready to take advantage of another; (2) Keen-killer, an eager shooter of game; (3) Keen-set, hungry; eager; (4) Keen-shaver, an eager, greedy person. (1) Gall. Jock was... keen-bitten as a wind of March, Crockett Kit Kennedy (1899) 55. n.Cy. (Hall.) Lan. A strong, round-limbed, ‘keen-bitten’ lad, Waugh Heather (ed. Milner) II. 2; I'r so keen bitt'n I mede no bawks at o heyseed, Tim Bobbin View Dial. (1740) 61, ed. 1806; Lan.1, Chs.1 (2) Ayr. When I was somewhat younger than I am now I was fond o' a shot: I was a keen killer... I considered that I had nae sport unless I brought something in wi' me, Hunter Studies (1870) 287. (3) Wm. Ah's gay keen-set fer my poddish (B.K.). w.Yks. I'm just keen-set for my supper, Gaskell Sylvia (1863) I. iv; Tha'rt keen set, Aw see, Snowden Web of Weaver (1896) 216. (4) Nhb. (R.O.H.)
2. Comb. with prep.: (1) Keen after, eager about; (2) Keen for, desirous of; (3) Keen of, (4) Keen on, fond of; (5) Keen to, see (2). (1) n.Yks.1 He's getten te t'age to be keen efter t'lasses. (2) Gall. Claverhouse was noways keen for the lad's shooting, Crockett Moss-Hags (1895) xi. (3) Rnf. I'm no sae keen o' men, As wed a man three times my age, Barr Poems (1861) 52. Ayr. I'm desperate keen of flesh and tarts, Galt Sir A. Wylie (1822) lxxxviii. Nhb. They seem vera keen o' their meat, Tynedale Stud. (1896) iv. Cum. Dunnet be keen o' gangin' abruoad, Lonsdale Mag. (Feb. 1867) 312; Cum.4 Nooadays theear nut seah many wild berries, nor are young ans seah keen o' gedderin' them, C. Pacq. (Nov. 9, 1893) 6. n.Yks.1 He's ower keen o' mak'n' brass, to mak' 't fairly; n.Yks.2 I's nut keen o' gying. e.Yks.1 He didn't seem varry keen o' job. w.Yks. (J.W.) n.Lin.1 He was keän enif o' th' job fo'st off. (4) Cum.1 w.Yks.5 A dog that snarls off other dogs when cleaning a bone is keen on't. (5) Per. Here's Nicodemus, lads, as keen's ye like to keep the Law, Sandy Scott (1897) 17. N.I.1 She's keen to be married. Yks. A cow, maris appetens, is said to be keen to the bull (Hall.). n.Yks.1 Mebbe he'll be as keen t'coom yamm agin inoo. s.Not. He's not so keen to do it as he was (J.P.K.). War.3 He did not like losing ─ he was very keen to win the game.
3. Strong-tasting. w.Yks. An put keen pepper in em all, Bywater Gossips, 11; A keen cheese. Of a hare which has been killed and kept, it will be said, ‘That's keen enough,’ in allusion to its ‘high’ or ‘gamey’ condition (C.C.R.).
4. Of a horse: pulling violently; of a dog: too eager after vermin. Sc. (A.W.), n.Lin.1
5. Strong; in phr. as keen as Samson. w.Yks. (C.C.R.)
6. Of a storm: sharp, severe. Stf., War., Wor. There's bin a keen storm o' rain (H.K.).
7. Avaricious; looking sharply after one's own interests. Sc. (A.W.) w.Yks.5 He'll noan pāat wi' 't ─ he's ower keen fur that. nw.Der.1 s.Not. He lost a heap o' money ower it. He were keen, but not keen anuff (J.P.K.). n.Lin.1 John L── was a oot o' th' waay keän man, an' his wife was wo's then him; she was that keän she'd skin flints an' mak broth on 'em for th' sarvant chaps to sup. Hence Keenery, sb. covetousness. n.Yks.2
8. Of sand or gravel: sharp; fine. Wor. (H.K.), Glo.1 Hence Keen clay, phr., see below. Cum. The clay used at Netherby lies close to the surface or top soil; it is what workmen call keen clay, and is quite free from small stones, or any mixture, or lime wash, Farm Reports, Netherby (1830) 63.
9. sb. Caustic applied to wens or ulcers. N.Cy.1, ne.Lan.1
10. v. To sharpen. War.2 I'll keen this knife. Wor. Who'll keen the knives? (H.K.) se.Wor.1, s.Wor.1, Hrf.2, Glo.1
11. To smart. Lan. It keens a bit at fost I know... but it'll soon be o'er, Westall Birch Dene (1889) II. 113.
12. To burn with caustic. Lan. (J.D.), ne.Lan.1, Chs.1 Chs.3

KEEN, see Kind, Kine, sb.

KEEN, sb.3 War.3 A knife-sharpener.