▪ I. † derned, ppl. a. Obs. or dial.
Also darned.
[f. dern v.]
Hidden, concealed; secret, privy.
| 1600 Gowrie's Conspir. in Select. Harl. Misc. (1793) 190 He privatly..took the fellow, and band him in a privie derned house, and, after lokking many durres vppon him, left him there. 1616 Jas. I, Disc. Powder Treason Wks. 242 That rightly-damned crew, now no more darned conspirators, but open and avowed rebels. 1631 A. Craig Pilgr. & Heremite 7 When at the colde Caue doore darned I stood. 1725 Ramsay Gent. Sheph. i. ii, A little fae Lies darn'd within my breast this mony a day. |
▪ II. derned
U.S. var. darned a. (= damned).
| 1843 Spirit of Times 11 Feb. 591/3 He said he would ‘be dod derned if he'd go’! Ibid., Report and be derned. 1873 J. H. Beadle Undevel. West xxi. 405 [He] was rich afo' the war; derned poor now. 1898 H. S. Canfield Maid of Frontier i. 6 The derned rangers will have to make the same ride. |