Cain bairns explained

Cain bairns or kain bairns were infants who, according to Scottish superstition, were seized by warlocks and witches, and paid as a tax or tithe to the Devil.[1] [2] [3] Càin is a Gaelic word for a tribute, tax or tithe, and is the origin of the Lowland Scots term "kane",[4] while "bairn" means a child.[5]

The word was in use along the Scottish Borders, according to Walter Scott's Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.[1]

It is unconnected with Cain in the Bible.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Dictionary of Lowland Scotch: With an Introductory Chapter on the Poetry, Humour, and Literary History of the Scottish Language and an Appendix of Scottish Proverbs. Charles. Mackay. June 25, 1888. Ticknor. Google Books.
  2. Book: Warrack, Alexander. A Scot's Dialect Dictionary. 1911. 978-1902407098.
  3. Book: Murray, John. The Ballads and Songs of Scotland. 1874. Macmillan and Company . 9780999255889.
  4. Web site: 2004. Dictionaries of the Scots Language:: SND :: kane. live. Dictionaries of the Scots Language. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224144528/http://www.dsl.ac.uk:80/entry/snd/kane . 2018-12-24 .
  5. Web site: Dictionaries of the Scots Language:: SND :: bairn. live. Dictionaries of the Scots Language. https://web.archive.org/web/20150405185834/http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bairn . 2015-04-05 .

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