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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Band, n.¹ Also: bande, baund(e. [Early ME. band (c 1200), bande, ON. band.]

1. A bond or fetter; a means of restraint. Chiefly in phrases (furth or out) of band(is), out-with band, in band(is).a1400 Leg. S. i. 522 (Petir the hound losit of bande). 14.. Acts I. 326/2 (gif the mastis be nocht in bande na in chenȝeis). c1420 Wynt. iii. 364 (bath his handys scho festynyde wytht thai bandys). 1450 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 12.
The quhilk day it was ordanit be the ... court and statute all men and wemen that hes swyne in the towne outwith band be removit out of the towne betuix and Sanct Androis day, or than that thai be kepit in band, and that thai be nocht fundin lowse under the payne of escheitt 1470 Peebles B. Rec. 164 (that na swyn suld be haldyn out band). a1500 Henr. Fab. 1528 (in bandis strang heir man I ly). 1506 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 110.
That na maner of swyne be haldin ... outwith hous nor outwith band 1512 Ib. 137 (that na doggis be haldin furth of band). 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 3 (the mannykillis and hard bandis); etc. 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 29 (that thai keip thame in band). 1596 Dalr. I. 198/11 (quha immediatlie in bandes was castne).

b. fig. A fettering or confining force or influence.c1420 Wynt. v. 3792 (hys syne and bandys that he was cumbryd in). a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1058 (to bring ws out of bandis). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 6/22 (to deliuer the pepill fra the band of Sathanas). 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. 44 (fra swelth of Sylla and dyrk Caribdis bandis). c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark vii. 35 (the band of his tung was lowset). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 266 (lowsit we wer frome bandis of Balyall). a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 123 (in cruell bandis of cair). 1585 James VI Ess. 55 (reulis wilbe bot a band to Nature).

2. A narrow flat piece or strip of metal, used for strengthening or securing something; esp. one attached to a door or gate either to strengthen it, or suspend it on the ‘crooks’. 1375 Barb. xvii. 616.
Gret flaggatis tharof thai maid, Gyrdit with irne bandis braid a1500 Rauf C. 629.
The ȝaip ȝeman to the ȝet is gane; Enbraissit the bandis beliue 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 2.
For mendyn of … dur and wyndo, ij bandis and a cruk and nailis 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 292.
For mykkis and bandis to the gunnys 1501 Ib. II. 88.
Sex score crukis for duris and wyndois, 84 bandis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 162/6.
The ȝettis of Caspy ar stekit with yrne bandis & barris 1513 Doug. i. v. 115.
With hard irne bandis claspit fast in cage 1534–5 Linlithgow Pal. 323.
Four bandis tynnit to the thua trans durris of the chapell 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. 338.
Ane band to the nether queir duir, and ane cleik 1555 Ib. 298.
For mending the greit bands of the Kirk of Feyld Port 1585 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 193/1.
Twa bandis of irne for the stok of the gross culwering 1618 Linlithgow Pal. 338.
For a pair of creukis and bandis to the bak dore 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. 47.
Twa windowes with bands and slots 1690 Foulis Acc. Bk. 130.
To John Carss, smith … for … helping a band to the back clossgat 1694 Ib. 168.
A door peice and door, … cheiks, lock, and bands

b. A rope, string, straw-twist, etc. with which something is secured or tied. c1475 Wall. ix. 1632.
A thourtour bande, that all the drawcht wpbar 1513 Doug. iv. ix. 91 .
The bandis of threyd Nocht festynnyt 1595 Orkney & Sh. Rec. I. 220.
Bayth the saidis mens cornes was off ane band, and nocht na differance betuixt bayth the bandis

c. A range (of hills); the ridge (of a hill). 1513 Doug. xi. vii. 59.
All that cuntre and band of hillis hie Ib. x. 63.
Hym self ascendis the hie band of the hyll

3. fig. A bond or tie of union or obligation; a compact or contract. 1375 Barb. i. 267.
Wedding is the hardest band That ony man may tak on hand a1400 Leg. S. iii. 932.
Me ware leware … Be banyste … Thane fore to brak to Criste the band c1420 Wynt. v. 4710.
In to the fyrst band That wes made in thare cunnand Hys Crystyndome this clerk forsuke Ib. 5184.
Saynt Adaman … Come tyll hyme thare, and fermly Mad spyrytualle band off cumpany 1456 Hay I. 128/30.
The quhilk is nocht sa stark band as is the law of nature Ib. 130/11.
The band spirituall betuix man and his fader spirituale c1520-c1535 Nisbet Eph. iv. 3.
Besy to kepe vnitee of spirit in the band of pece a1568 Scott xxxiv. 62.
That band of luif is best 1622-6 Bisset I. 111/12.
They moved with sa forceabill bandis hes solemnatlie avowed [etc.]

b. The bond of marriage. Occas. Goddis band. 1375 Barb. iv. 41.
Hyr dochtir, that … Wes coupillyt in-to Goddis band With Walter a1400 Leg. S. x. 348.
Mariage was fyrste that God of hevine … mad, & blyssit that band a1487 Gud Wife 141.
Gif scho be in Goddis band c1460 Consail Wys Man 250.
Quhen thow spous kep weil thi hand, Thai thrif nocht weil at brekis that band c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 235.
That ilk band, that ȝe so blist call 1513 Doug. xii. i. 70.
Wowaris of this land That hir tofor had axit in sik band 1560 Rolland Seven S. 20/10.
To compleit the band of halynes That God deuysit betuix woman and man c1568 Lauder Minor P. v. 26.
Of that band God was the minister a1585 Maitl. Q. xlix. 48.
Then sould we … honour and blis the band of hymen 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Bastardus.
Ane barne vnlauchfullie gotten outwith the band of mariage

c. A compact of alliance or mutual interest; a covenant or league. 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccx.
It is acordit betvix the saide lordis that nane of thaim sal mak sic like band … with ony othir persone but consent of bath the partyis c1420 Wynt. vii. 2104.
Bandys betwene thame richt straitly Bwndyn [were] … off cumpany Ib. ix. 2677.
Thare may na band be maid sa ferm, Than thai can mak thare will thare term 1456 Hay II. 105/36.
Thair kingis and princis suore grete athis to kepe thai bandis and condiciounis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1170.
The foxe, … The gled, … Quhilk wer confidderit straitlye in ane band 1491 Lennox Mun. 143.
To stand in hartly band and kyndnes as efferis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 253/16.
In his tyme began the band betuix Fraunce & Scotland, the quhilk band lestis ȝit 1531 Bell. Boece I. 4.
The band roborat in maner forsaid, Gathelus maid sacrifice … to his Goddis 1535 Stewart 21001.
The band agane and peice for till renew 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 59.
The lordis and gentilmen of Louthian … subscryvit the new band and confidderatioun a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxix. 83.
Countre men quhilk in ane band Conspyris still to do the deir 1596 Dalr. I. 72/15.
That he sulde drawe that people to sum amitie, and to sum bande of freindschip bring thame 1648 St. A. Presb. 46.
He called the Solemne League and Covenant a Band c1650 Spalding I. 3.
[He] wes bot ane barne who (according to the Commoun Band) micht not be ansuerabill for their misdeidis

d. A formal or documentary bond, contract, or agreement, entered into or made by a person. 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 182.
That … the Governour sall giff his lettres, bande, and seille till his cusin … of mantinance, helpe, and suppleie c1420 Wynt. ii. 1148.
The lordys walde noucht wndo The band that thai war oblysyd to Ib. vii. 2346.
Absolutyown than tuk he, And all hys bandys gert selyd be c1475 Wall. i. 76.
The wys lordis gert hym sone brek that band Ib. iii. 54.
To that fals king he had neuir maid band 1482 Edinb. Chart. 156.
To the observing, keping, and fulfilling of all and sindri thir promittis bandis and oblisingis aboue writin 1517 Reg. Privy S. I. 449/1.
Personis … quhilkis wil be bund to … gif sufficient plegis and band thairupoun 1533 Bell. Livy I. 33/26.
To gif ane notabill exempill … that nowthir faith, band, nor promisis suld be observate to ane tratoure 1557 Reg. Cupar A. II. 262.
The marriage of his sone, conforme to vmquhile Wat Retray his fadderis band 1596 Misc. Spald. C. V. 373.
Vndir a certane pecuniall pane mentionat in the act and band maid thairupoun 1605 Edinb. Test. XL. 23 b.
Hir saidis haill gudis, geir, … bandis, obligatiounes, actiones, … pertening to hir 1641 Acts V. 503/1.
The sald John Gordone … inforced the said Williame to give band to him for payment of ane thowand merkes 1657 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 170.
[The Council] appoints the said thesaurer to give band … for the saids money, and the said baillie his band for the samen 1684 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 264.
Yow shall have my band as a forsaid for all togither