But, Lord's sake, we're certainly either donnered or demented, standing clishmaclavering this way like a couple o' howdies at a baptism, whan we oought to be minding what we're about.
1830 — Anonymous, "Bartholomew Fair", Fraser's Magazine, November 1830:
"Whisht, ye reprobate!" was the Scotsman's reply ; "let's hear what the poor creature has got to say, for it maun either demented, or donnered wi' drink, to think o' preaching in sic a place and sic a night as this. Forgie us, it's downright blasphemy!"
"He's no' daft," interposed Janet. "He's neither daft nor donnered, but speaks as becomes his father's son, and a true follower of the Prince. […]
1839 — William Scrope, The Art of Deer-Stalking, John Murray (1839), page 63:
"I didna hear naething but the plevar; sure he canna win farther forrat than auld Heclan ; he was sair donnered at first, but he skelped it brawly afterwards : we shall see them at the downcome."
1862 — John Macfarlane, The Life and Times of George Lawson, D. D., Selkirk, Professor of Theology to the Associate Synod, With Glimpses of Scottish Character from 1720 to 1820, William Oliphant and Co. (1862), Chapter III, page 107:
'Sir,' said he, 'I think ye're baith daft and donnered. I pat you on the road this morning already, and what brings you back this way again?' The doctor recognised his guide, and simply said, 'I daresay I am donnered enough ; but I have reason to thank God that I have lost none of my senses yet.'
1867 — Norman Macleod, The Starling, Alexander Strahan (1867), Volume I, Chapter I, page 7:
"The jail! What gude will that do to you or me, laddie? I'm clean donnered about the business. Let me sit down aside ye; keep laigh, in case the keepers see ye, and tell me by what misshanter ye ever took this wicked business, and under my nose, as if I couldna fin' ye oot!"
1899 — John Buchan, "The Oasis in the Snow", in Grey Weather: Moorland Tales of My Own People, John Lane (1899), page 188:
Had I been i' my clear senses, I wad hae been rale puzzled about the maitter, but I was donnered wi' the drifts and the weariness, and thocht only o' getting by 't.
2010 — M. L. Spurgeon, Death Is A Fumbler: A John Holmes Johnson Mystery, AuthourHouse (2010), →ISBN, page 136:
"That's better, Holmes. Welcome back." Joseph squeezed his hand. "Tired?"
"Donnered."
Frederick looked perplexed.
Holmes drifted back to sleep even as he listened to Joseph explain the meaning of donnered.
1835 —Anonymous, The Bondman: A Story of the Times of Wat Tyler, Wallis & Newell Publishers (1835), page 46:
"Aweel, aweel, what was I to say to Jean? Howsomever, to mak' a lang tale short, hame I gaed, and sic a flyting she flate ye ne'er heard, — she ca'd me a' the auld doited donnered idiots, auld stupit deevils, e'er was.
"Drumcarro," cried Miss Eelen, "ye get credit for sense among your own kind, but if ever there was a donnered auld fool in affairs of a certain description! Cannot ye hold your tongue, man, and let things take their course? They will do that without either you or me."
1893 — Israel Zangwill, "The Semi-Sentimental Dragon", in The King of Schnorrers, Macmillan and Co. (1909), pages 162-163:
"And how d'ye think the words should sound, coming from the creature's belly? And what should ye see! You should nae ken where to go, I warrant. Come, I'll spier ye. Where d'ye come in for the fight with St. George — is it R 2 E or L U E?"
"L U E," replied Jimmy feebly.
"Ye donnered auld runt!" cried Davie triumphantly. "'Tis neither one nor t'other. 'Tis R C. Why, ye're capable of deein' up stage instead of down! Ye'd spoil my great scene. […]