▪ I. randan, n.1
(rænˈdæn)
[? var. of randon random, with assimilation of the vowels.]
1. Riotous or disorderly behaviour; a spree.
| c 1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 180, I had the trouble of..ye Randan they made in the publick houses. 1826–7 Hone Every-day Bk. II. 820 He had seen a deal of ‘ran⁓dan’, and a racketty life had racketted his frame. 1893 Stevenson Catriona 164 He was fond of a lass and fond of a glass, and fond of a ran-dan. |
b. In phr. on the randan, ‘on the spree’.
| 1764 Low Life 16 Young Fellows, who have been out all Night on the Ran-Dan, stealing Staves and Lanthorns. 1894 Stevenson St. Ives xxvii. (1898) 203 They were a' on the ran-dan last nicht! |
2. A riotous person. rare.
| a 1809 H. Cowley Who's the Dupe i. ii, The most extraordinary youth... None of your randans, up all night—not drinking..—No..poring, and reading. |
▪ II. randan, adv., n.2 (and a.)
(rænˈdæn)
[Of obscure origin: connexion with prec. is not apparent.]
a. adv. Applied to a style of rowing in which the middle one of three rowers pulls a pair of sculls, stroke and bow an oar each. b. n. A boat for rowing in this fashion. c. attrib. or adj.
| 1828 Sporting Mag. XXII. 251 Pulling what is termed ‘Ran-Dan’, that is, a pair of sculls and a pair of oars. 1857 P. Colquhoun Compan. Oarsman's Guide 20 Four is the best number, and randan the best style, for an up-country trip. 1884 Yates Recoll. iv, Had a randan gig built for us. 1885 Act 48 & 49 Vict. c. 76 §29 The term ‘vessel’ shall include any..house-boat, boat, randan, wherry [etc.]. |
▪ III. randan, n.3 dial. or techn.
(See quots.)
| 1750 Ellis Mod. Husb. VI. ii. 65 (E.D.S.) Ran-dan, the coarsest wheat flour that is made. a 1825 Forby Voc. E. Anglia, Randan, the produce of a second sifting of meal. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Randan, a miller's name for the finest parts of the bran or outside skin of the wheat. 1886 Cheshire Gloss. 281 Randan, the very coarsest flour, or rather the very finest bran, ground almost as fine as flour. |
▪ IV. † ranˈdan, v. Obs. rare—1.
[? f. randan n.1]
trans. To abuse, vituperate.
| 1764 T. Bridges Homer Travest. (1797) I. 30 Atrides he did so randan, He call'd him all but gentleman. |
▪ V. randan
obs. form of random.