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

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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.

Doun, Down, adv. Also: doun(n)e, douin, downe, don(e, dune, dwin, doin(e. [ME. doun(e, down(e, early dun(e, late OE. dune, for earlier adúne, of dúne.] Down, downwards, in various senses.Sometimes preceding the verb, esp. in verse at the end of a line; in some cases forming compounds, as doun-bete, -thraw, -thring, q.v. For the phrase up and doun see Up adv.

1. From a higher to a lower place or position. a1400 Leg. S. i. 733.
His discipill … Tuk done his cors Ib. ii. 537.
Fra hewine schane don a mekil lycht Ib. vii. 246.
That stane on stane … Suld nocht be lefit vncastyne done c1420 Wynt. v. 5537.
Downe he sawe that ymage lycht Ib. viii. 2649.
Lange or the sone ȝheide downe ?1438 Alex. ii. 6340.
The ladeis saw him of the tour; Dame Fesonas … Ȝeid formest doun c1450-2 Howlat 7.
Sa soft was the sessoun our souerane dovne sent a1500 Bk. Chess 553.
The froit … He plukit and kest dovne gud scare 1513 Doug. v. xi. 19.
Sone slaid sche doun, onseyn of ony wy 1533 Gau 70/12.
O hel, I sal sink thé dune a1540 Freiris Berw. 112.
Scho maid thair bed and syn went doun away a1578 Pitsc. I. 379/6.
Schir Dawid Lyndsay … caussit ane great clude come out of the heavins done abone the ȝeit 1583 Sat. P. xlv. 1082.
On the flure he got a fall, while doun come cannabie and all 1611 Mure Misc. P. ii. 88.
Lauching to sie my trickling teirs doune go 1626–7 Peebles B. Rec. 414.
For mending of the coksaill quhen the wind blewe it doine c1650 Spalding I. 313.
Thay … ordanit … to tak doun the portrait of our blissid virgyn Marie

b. From higher to lower ground or level; to a place regarded as lower. 1375 Barb. viii. 281.
Schir Amery the kyng has seyn … Cum to the playn doune fra the hill Ib. xv. 171.
The Mawndwell … Richt throu the toune his vay held doune 1456 Hay I. 6/32.
Michael … gert thame wend doun … the waye till hell c1450-2 Howlat 14.
This riche rever dovn ran but resting or ruf 1469 Peebles B. Rec. 160.
The sayd balyais … hes set … the commoun stroudyr fra the gat don 1477 Edinb. B. Rec. 35.
The cramys of chepmen to be set fra the Belhous doun to the Trone c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 28.
Doun throu the ryce a ryuir ran wyth stremys 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 300.
To beir down her small wark … to Leyth a1550 Tayis B. 3.
Be that riuer ran I doun rycht a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1527.
Gif we gae doun about Quhyle that this bend of craigs rin out 1623 Crim. Trials II. 537.
Scho went with Alexander Lokart dwin to the Turret-Port c1650 Spalding II. 325.
But bo to thair blanket, thay rode doun throu the Gallawget 1671 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 700/1.
It is requisit yowe send doune sume vnderstanding mane 1696 Caldwell Fam. P. 189.
Lawyers goeing doune to the Asseisses

2. To the ground from a standing or erect posture or from horseback. (Cf. Ding v. 7.) 1375 Barb. xi. 576.
Thai him met sa sturdely, That he and hors war born all doune c1420 Wynt. iv. 2026.
Foure score of thoussandis wes slayne downe Ib. viii. 4698.
Thai bare down buskis in thare way 1456 Hay I. 37/13.
With the strenth of the water he was borne doune and drownyt a1500 Bk. Chess 80.
His correkkaris all he slew thaim dovne 1513 Doug. xii. viii. 38.
Dovn fell also the gret augurian 1535 Stewart 24193.
Mony berne doun of his blonk wes borne 15.. Clar. i. 91.
The Lumbard knicht did with the straik doun fall c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1026.
The prince omnipotent, Quhilk suld tred doun that fals serpent 1567 G. Ball. 181.
Hely fell downe, … And brak his neck, and coller bane 1574 St. A. Kirk S. 398.
He keist her down by the way c1650 Spalding I. 9.
The Erll … set thame a syd and boor them doun

b. So as to demolish (or be demolished) or break in pieces. (See also Brek v. 4, Cast v. 6, Ding v. 7.) 1375 Barb. ix. 322.
The king … gert brek doune the vall Ib. xvi. 363.
Till hew doune Iedward forest cleyne c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2426.
One olde mansioun That thane for eld was fallyne dovne c1420 Wynt. iii. 746.
The post he tyt tyll hym sa fast, Quhyll downe the hous come at the last c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 68.
Than Bissines the grit gyn bend, Straik doun the top of the foir tour 1521 Dunferm. B. Rec. 174.
Gif the said Gavin misteris to tak dovnne onything that stoppis him in the biggin … he sal haf leif to tak dovnne 1533 Bell. Livy I. 145/28.
That [of the brig] nocht was left … vnbet doun bot ane small parte 1561 Treas. Acc. XI. 70.
That nane brek doun gold nor silver 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 118.
To schoute … [any] that wald brek doun the pillaris 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 79.
They … did break doune one of the dammes of the said milne

c. Placed before the verb in prec. senses. 1375 Barb. x. 255.
The kyng … gert doun driff it [sc. the peel] to the ground 1456 Hay II. 48/15.
Quhen he war doune strykyn, than war his honour lawe a1500 Seven S. 1368.
Scho … bade the gardinar it dovne smyte 1513 Doug. ii. x. 78.
The wroth of the goddis has down beft The city of Troy from top onto the grond Ib. 88.
Quhar thir towris thou seys downfall and swey 1596 Dalr. I. 203/32.
The dyk … was al brokne and douncastne

3. Into a sitting, kneeling, or lying posture. a1400 Leg. S. i. 766.
He gert … seit hym done, With ceptre in hand Ib. xxiv. 169.
In a kyrk-ȝard done sat he ?1438 Alex. ii. 5957.
On the crages quhare he sat doun Ib. 6437.
The knychtis … Ar doune in myddis the palace set 1456 Hay I. 202/15.
Suld he cowardly ly doune and lat thame sla him c1460 Thewis Gud Women 141.
[Let her] syt nocht doune to hald talkyne 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 93.
At evin be tyme dovne a bed I me strekyt 1533 Gau 28/13.
I sal giff thir al to the, and thow wil fal dune and adorne … me a1540 Freiris Berw. 72.
Cum hiddir, deme, and sett ȝow doun me bye Ib. 115.
Freir Allane liggis doun as he best micht 1570 Sat. P. x. 4.
On bed … Quhylis doun, quhylis up I rais a1578 Pitsc. I. 60/25.
He fell doune wpoun his kneis a1585 Maitl. Q. viii. 19.
Thocht we wald ly doun and die It will ws helpe na thing

b. To one's feet from horseback. ?1438 Alex. ii. 6110.
Thow sall haue … My coit, quhan I am lychtit doun a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 130.
The knyght … Reynet his palfray of pryde, Quhen he ves lightit doune

4. So as to lower slightly. a1400 Leg. S. xxiii. 269.
He … kist his hud done oure his face c1420 Wynt. v. 176.
The twa wyld bestis … Kest downe … Thare hedys 1456 Hay II. 45/22.
Rycht as drede … gerris a persone cast doune the hede, … sa dois the stelin hat [ger] the knycht cast doune his eyne 1513 Doug. iii. v. 75.
Hir vissage down scho kest for schame adred 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7480.
The Empreour … , with browis casting doun 1590 Burel Pilgr. i. i.
Thir treis … Thair tops thay did dounfald

b. In a downward direction.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 103.
Thocht I cros me all cleine fra the croun doun a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 450.
Thow bedrait hir, doun fra starn to stere 1513 Doug. I. vii. 111.
The Troian madynys quhite, With hair doun skalit Ib. vii. vi. 194.
With goldin bruchis … from thar brestis dovne 15.. Clar. iv. 1189.
Hir hairis bright … Doun schading from hir face a1578 Pitsc. I. 233/7.
From the waist done they war bot on personage a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. 2.
Sumtyme thay will beir vp their goun, to schaw thair wylicot hingand doun(2) c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 75.
Saturnus doune, withe fyry eyn, did blent, Throw bludy visar Ib. lvi. 12.
Quhair ane makis myrrie, ane vther lukis doun

5. To a lower state or inferior condition. (Cf. Ding v. 7 b, Cry v. 7, Put v.) 1422 Stirlings of Keir 208.
Nocht throw … dred led, na error down sledyn, bot myn awyn fre and gud wil ?1438 Alex. ii. 6553.
I se tua proud, … That doun mon neidlingis the ta syde 1456 Hay II. 90/22.
Ay his lordschip suld downe grow and wane c1420 Ratis R. 1695.
The sevynt eild … haldis downe, And worthis waikar ilke day 1461 Liber Plusc. 386.
Thai sall neuir ceis quhill at thai bryng him doun c1475 Wall. iv. 719.
Gyff ȝow will help to bryng ȝon rebell downe a1500 Bk. Chess 1542.
All the pepill of his tovne Askit at God for to depryve him dovne 1533 Gau 55/14.
[He] sal be oppressit dune fra his gloir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 734.
Vnkyndlie captanes ouirthrawis And commoun welth doun drawis a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxiv. 53.
It pertinis to thi Maiestie This college to wppe hald or lat it doin

6. On the ground, a table, or other surface. ?1438 Alex. ii. 5907.
The poun than set he down in hy 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 123.
The sayd balyhe laid don ij s at the Justice Ar for the comysson a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 228.
Thai plantit doun pauillonis 1535 Stewart 473.
In ane vaill that is besyde the toun, Eberiens stentit thair palȝeonis doun c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 1.
First doun thay kest Moyses Pentateuchon Id. Seven S. Prol. 85.
Ane wed thairfoir … scho wald doun lay

b. On some material, by way of record. c1420 Ratis R. 1521.
This was the superscriptione One Mortymar was wrytin downe … vpone his graif 1596 Dalr. I. 1/8.
That I … mycht sett doun as in a … table a certane [etc.] 1639 Mure Ps. xl. 7.
'Tis written doune of me, In volume of the book 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. 78.
Conforme to the pryces set doune in ane act of counsell

7. By family descent. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 102/37.
This lady came doune of the nobillest that euir was 1549 Compl. 4/29.
It aperis veil … that ȝe ar discendit doune lynyalye of them that hes been propungnatours for the libertee of ther cuntre

8. By way of reduction or abatement. 1456 Peebles B. Rec. 115.
The sayd balyeis and al the commounis has strekyn hym don v nobelis 1565 Rec. Earld. Orkney 371.
The said Wm. hes gevin doun off the rentaill this yeir because the coirnis is euil 1573 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 449.
Gevin to James Andersoun … doun of his ferme be ressoun of the greit droutht, xxj li.

9. In a low position, place, or state; fig. in disuse. (Cf. Here-, Thare-doun.) c1475 Wall. iv. 226.
The bryg was doun at that entre suld kepe c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4735.
Pure laubourars wald that law wer doun, Quhilk neuer was fundit be resoun a1568 Scott iv. 85.
The denkest [is] sounest doun a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. c. 15.
All ewill is vpe and all gudnes is doun Ib. clxxiv. 63.
Nowe sen doun is the auld religion