subs. (old Scots’).—1. New Year’s Eve, which is a national festival. [The origin has been the subject of much discussion.]
1776. BRAND, Observations on Popular Antiquities, p. 102. Sirs, do you what HAGMANE signifies? It is the devil be in the house!
1793. The Bee, 10 July, p. 17. The night preceding that festival HOGGMONAY.
1879. JAMES NAPIER, Folk Lore, p. 154. After the Reformation, the Scotch transferred HAGMANAY [from Xmas Eve] to the last day of December, as a preparation day for the New Year.
2. Hence a wanton. [The feast is celebrated with much drink and not a little license.]
