wheen

American  

[hween, ween] / ʰwin, win /

adjective

1. few.

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noun

1. a few persons or things.

wheen British  

/ wiːn, hwiːn /

determiner

1. few; some

2. (preceded by a)

   1. a small number of

   2. a good number of

   3. ( as pronoun; functioning as plural )

      a wheen of years

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Etymology

Origin of wheen

1325–75; Middle English (north) quheyn, Old English hwēne, instrumental case of hwōn few, a few

Example Sentences

Dr Chris Robinson, director of the Scots Language Dictionaries project, is unsure how it's possible to debate the referendum without it: "How can anyone discuss politics without a wheen o' blethers?"

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2014

Aye, aye! the warld'll tak' a wheen o' makin' over yet, an' it'll no be you nor me that'll do it.

From Roland Graeme: Knight A Novel of Our Time by Machar, Agnes Maule

"Oh, jist a few sheep's throtters and a wheen of nettles."

From My Lady of the Chimney Corner by Irvine, Alexander

Whoopee! could it mean he’s aimin’ to strike that terrible, big lake–Okeechobee–that overflowed its banks not long ago when they had that nasty hurricane and drowned a wheen o’ poor folks around Moore Haven?

From Eagles of the Sky With Jack Ralston Along the Air Lanes by Newcomb, Ambrose

There be a good wheen o’ them about.”

From Gwen Wynn A Romance of the Wye by Reid, Mayne