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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dene, Deyn(e, Deane, n.² Also: den, dein(e. [ME. den, dene (14th c.), OF. deien, dien (mod. F. doyen), L. decānus. Cf. Decane n.]

1. A title prefixed to the names of ecclesiastics, not only to those holding the office of dean, but also to other dignitaries and even to ordinary monks.In the Leg. S. used in the early sense of a monk set over other nine or ten in a monastery.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 269.
Thane red ves dene Zozamas Ib. xxx. 567.
Dene Theodorus that thu Wenis a haly man be now 1388 Bamff Chart. 22.
The forsayd … has procratt the prioure of Restynet, Dene Ion Marsyale, for tyl bere witnes to the forsaid contrac c1420 Wynt. viii. 1648.
The Abbot of Abbyrbrothok than, Dene Henry … callyd Ib. ix. 2167.
Dene Wilyeame Nory, supprioure [of St. Andrews] 1423 Edinb. Chart. 55.
A reuerend fadre, Dene Iohne of Leth, quhylum Abbot of Halirudehouse 1465 Wemyss Chart. 86.
Be it maid kend till all men … vs dene Johne Foulys … and dene Jorge Goys, … frely [to] ourgif and resing … the landys of Mythill 1489 Ib. 115.
Dene Waltere Dauidsoun, prioure of May 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 441/2.
The said abbot … of Cisteaux hes send and derect his power … till his professit monk of Cisteaux Dene Thomas Fasyntoun 1526 Ib. 524/1.
The gift and donatioun made be dene Thomas Newtoun, sub-prior of Driburch, … of the chapellanry [etc.] 1544 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 431.
Our welbelouitis Dene Robert Stevinson priour of Deir, Alexander Menȝeis [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4670–3.
All monkrye, ȝe may heir and se, Ar callit denis, for dignite. … He man be callit dene Androw, Dene Peter, dene Paull, and dene Robart 1562-3 Winȝet I. 49/1.
At the command of Dene Patrik Kinloquhy, precheour in Linlythqow a1578 Pitsc. I. 56/27.
Dene Johnne Winram, suppryour of the abbay(b) 1411 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 32.
Den Walter Panter abbot of Abbroth, den Thomas abbot of Jedwart, den James … priour of Rostinoth 1428 Liber Aberbroth. fol. 127 (J).
Den Richart Scot, suppriour that tyme of the abbay of Aberbroth, … Den Thomas Bet … & den Ihon Driburgh, monks of the said Abbay 1490 Acta Aud. 134/2.
It wes allegiit … that the said Den Johne wes nocht abbot blissit and confermit of the said abbacy 1518 Dunferm. B. Rec. 297.
Adam priour of Dunfermling, den Edward Skaithtmur elemosinar, Master Abraham Crechtoune 1550 Coll. Aberd. & B. 182.
Den Iames Chyld cannone of Mvnymwsk vith my hand 1570 Liber Scon 210.
Oure weilbelouit bruther, Den Henry Abircromby, pryour(c) a 1470 Liber Aberbr. 108.
Deyn Valter Panter that tym vas ane auld man, and resignyt the abbacy tyll ane deyn Richart Guthre 1550 Coll. Aberd. & B. 181.
Deyn Iames Chyld and Deyn Iames Murraye, chanonis of the Abbaye and Priorye off Mvnimosk 1566 Inverness B. Rec. I. 132.
Comperit in jugement Deyne Dauid Dasoun acclamand [etc.] Ib.
The said Deyne Dawidis clame

2. An ecclesiastical dean, either the head of a chapter or subordinate to an archdeacon. Dene rurale: see Rurale a.(a) 1424 Acts II. 5/1.
That ilk bischop in ilk denry of his diocise gar his officiall and his dene summonde all the tenandis … befor him and cheis taxatouris 1456 Hay I. 151/16.
He makis sum curatis, … sum denys, sum archdenes, … sum bischopis [etc.] c1450-2 Howlat 199.
Gret ganeris on ground … That war demyt but dowt denys douchty Ib. 690.
Bischopis bovnis to the burd, … Abbotis of ordouris, … Denys and digniteis, as I eir demyt 1488 Lanark B. Rec. 2.
[It was] deliveryt be the inquest … that it pertenyt nocht to the balye, na to that court, bot referrit it to the dene that has the correctioun tharof 1491 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 483.
Our dene and said chanonis, bredeir of our cheptour 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 295/2.
A protectioun … to him, his cathedrale kirk, the dene, chepture and channonis of the samyn 1542 Sutherland Chart. 97.
We, … be avise of our dene and chaiptour, to haf mature consideratioun of trublis … slauchter, stowth [etc.] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4295.
Abbottis and priouris, … Archidenis and denis of dignitie a1578 Pitsc. I. 173/6.
It was concludit … that all bischopis, abbottis and denis sould haue bot ane small part of thair lewing(b) 1443 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 97.
In witnes of the qwilk, … the forsaid den and archedekin, has set to thar seil 1458 Peebles B. Rec. 127.
Al oudir clamis is qwytclamyt to master Iohn and the den(c) 1443 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 96.
It plesis the King … that the said colege joys the said kirkis … be speciale conditioune and consent of the said deyne, cheptur, and chanonys 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 167.
I leif vnto the deyne … Fra adulteraris [to] tak the buttok maill a1578 Pitsc. I. 200/9.
Also he maid … the bischope of Galloway the deine, and the archedeine and thesawrar and subdeine (d) 1567 G. Ball. 178.
Thocht thow be archebischop or deane, … Resist thow God, thy gloir is gaine a1578 Pitsc. II. 174/13.
The bischoppis, abboittis, freiris, munkis, deanis, personis, and viccaris 1622-6 Bisset I. 100/30.
Deanis, archedenes, chantouris … keiparis of … collegiate kirkis [etc.] a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 20.
The Devil and the Dean begins with a letter. when the Devil hes the Dean, the kirk will be the better

b. With local designation added, as of Glasgow.(a, b) 14.. Acts I. 74/2.
Schir Willȝam, bischope of Glasgw, … W. den of Glasgw, Robert archden of the samyn place 1482 Edinb. Chart. 154.
Maister James Lyndesay, dene of Glasqu 1493 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 212.
Master Ihone Fresar, dene of Lestalryg and clark of the regystre 1512 Treas. Acc. IV. 371.
Send to my lord Dene of Glasgow … for the burse, xlv li. 1594 Exch. R. XXII. 392.
The landis of Kirkhill … admortizat of auld to the dene and chapellanis of Restalrig 1622-6 Bisset I. 95/11.
Our venerabill brother the bischope of Galloway, ane dene of the royal chaipell of Streviling(c, d) 1443 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 96.
Mastir Jhon off Lichtoun, deyne, and maistir Gilbert Forstar, ersdeyne of Brechine 1489 Wemyss Chart. 115.
Maistere Hew Dowglas, deyne of Brechyne 1536–7 Breadalbane Coll. (Reg. H.) No. 47.
Maister Henry Quhite, dein of Brechun a1578 Pitsc. I. 218/5.
He was movett to pase to the deine of the said chapell royall 1612 Acts IV. 501/2.
The deane and chapture of the cathedrall kirk

3. Dene of (the) gild, the head of the guild-brethren or merchant company of a royal burgh.Also in later use in the forms dena-, deny-, deanegild(e.(1) 1423 Edinb. Chart. 55.
Thomas of Berwyk, dene of the gilde, … of Edinburgh 1448 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 402.
Under the payne of a punde of wax … to be rasit be the dene of the gild 1456 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 15.
On the morne the prowest, dene, and officiaris of the gild war chosin 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. 97.
The covnt made … befor the alderman, the balyes, and the dene of the gilde in the gilde covrt(2) 1448 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 402.
That the dene of gilde punys forstallaris of this burgh 1499 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 79.
The chapellane to gif compt of his expensis … to the dene of gild 1528 Ib. 233.
The baillies and counsale ordanis the dene of gild … to calsay the samyn 1536 Dunferm. B. Rec. 17.
The said James and Dauid sall pay xl s. to the den of gild & the bredir 1543 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 112.
Rychart Plumbar … doand sic vther seruice … as pleisis the prouest and dene of gild to devyse 1551 Acts II. 485/2.
The Dene of Gilde … to gar leische barnis that perturbis the Kirk 1580 Dundee Shipping L. 196.
In presens of Alex. Annand baillie and Alex. Scrymgeour, Dene of Gild Ib. 202.
Ane tyket … in the handis of the said dene of gild 1593 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 94.
[The council] ordanis the dene of gild to caus mak ane dur betuix the assyse hous and the chairter hous 1622-6 Bisset II. 269/30.
[The] new and auld [counsall] suld chuise provest, baillies, dene of gyld, thesaurare [etc.](b) 1579 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 34.
The decain of everie craft sell present the person of craft … to the deinis of gild of this said burght 1593 Reg. Privy C. V. 63.
That the provest and commoun clerk, alsweill as the deine of gild, … judicialie dimit thair offices in the townis handis 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 244.
The deyne of gild resavit the boxe with the commoun seill of this burgh 1662 Irvine Mun. II. 88.
Because that I had made heretabill venditione of my landis to Iames Blair, … din of gild of the said burgh 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 214.
The counsell … ordanes the thesaurer or dein of gild to advance such moneyes as sall be neidfull(c) 1605 Glasgow Chart. I. 608.
The deane of gild sall be alwayis ane mercheand Ib. 609.
The deane of gild and his counsall sall be composit … of aucht persones 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 187.
The thesaurar to pay thairfoir according to the deane of gilds subscryvit compt c1650 Spalding II. 371.
This speiche endit, the dean of gild, with the burgessis of gild, went to consultatioun 1669 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 255.
The councell … recomends to the d ean of gild to goe about the effectuating thereof(d) 1566 St. A. Baxter Bks. .
As [an] act med … betuix the sad belȝeis and craft, videlicet the denagildis ticet 1664 Lamont Diary 214.
Andro Carstairs, deny-gilde att St Androws, depairted out of this life 1703 Ann. Banff II. 178.
Ordaines the denagild to pay his board and colledge fie

4. Dene of faculte, the head of a faculty or branch of study in a University. 1509 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 45.
I leif ourmane and ourseare of all thir premissis the Deyne of Faculte of Glasgwe, quhat he be for the tyme 1522 Ib. 48.
To the Vniuersite … of Glasgw and to the rectouris, denis of faculte, … and scolaris of the sammyne 1524 James V Let. to St. Andrews 19 Nov.
Maister Martyne Balfour, … den of faculte of art of the said universite 1578 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 119.
Maister Thomas Smeitoun, minister of Paslay and dean of facultie of the said Vniuersitie 1656 Ib. 355.
With the speciall advyce and consent of … the rector and … dean of faculties