Sc. and north. dial. Also calland, callan, (calen). [Identical with Flemish (and Du.) kalant customer, chap, blade, a. north. F. caland = F. chaland customer (literally): see Littré. A modern word in Scotch, taken from Flemish or Dutch by the fisher-folk of the east coast, with whom ‘cannie callant’ is a favorite form of address. The sense ‘customer’ has died out in Sc.; cf. chap = chapman, blade, lad, fellow.]
A lad, youth, stripling; a boy of any age.
1716. Ramsay, On Wit, 21. The calland gap’d and glowr’d about.
1719. Hamilton, Ep. Ramsay, i. O famed and celebrated Allan! Renowned Ramsay! canty callan!
a. 1774. Fergusson, Poet. Wks. (1879), 31. An’ ilka canty callant sing like me.
1790. A. Wilson, Miser. I’m hunted hame wi’ dogs and callans.
1814. Scott, Waverley, III. 249. ‘Ye’re a daft callant, sir,’ said the Baron.
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 205. College calens might become so free and bold [etc.].
1819. J. Hogg, Hawick Commonriding Song. Scotia’s boast was Hawick callants.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xv. It will ruin the callant with the King.
1840. in Westmorland Gloss., Callan.
