lang syne

1 of 2

adverb

(ˌ)laŋ-ˈzīn  -ˈsīn 

chiefly Scotland

: at a distant time in the past

lang syne

2 of 2

noun

chiefly Scotland

: times past

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, / And auld lang syne?

—Robert Burns

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English (Scots), from lang long + syne since

First Known Use

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1694, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lang syne

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin