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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.

Falcon, Falcoun, n. Also: falconne, -cone, -can, -coune; fallcoun, -cone; faulcone, fawcown, -con, -cun; faacon, faccane. [ME. falcon, fawlcon, faucon, etc., faukun (c 1250), OF. faucon, falcun, L. falco.]

1. A falcon. c1420 Wynt. i. 1622.
Goshawke he dawntyde and fawcownys [C. falconys] To tak bathe boytoure and herrownys ?1438 Alex. i. 1806.
As ane falcoun of hie attour Straik stirlingis c1450-2 Howlat 322.
The falcone farest of flicht … Was ane erll of honour c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 54.
As falcoun swift desyrouse of hir pray 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xlii.
Of fowlis, sic as leiffis of reif, ar sindry kindis in Scotland, as ernis, falconis [etc.] 15.. Clar. v. 1606.
Etheriall foullis in air might mak na rove For lustie falkonis 1596 Dalr. I. 39/6.
The falcoun [marg. falkon] … and diuersh vthiris kyndes of halkes 1612 Bk. Rates 313.
Halkis called Faulcones

2. A light kind of cannon. Also attrib. with gun.(a) 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 141.
To the pynouris that brocht the falcoun gunnis furth of the Castell to pas to Leith 1506 Ib. 142.
To cartaris that drew thre falconis and the bumbard to Leith 1533 Ib. VI. 160.
For ane tree to be ane lymmer to ane of the falcounis cartis quhilk brek in Hadingtoune 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 54.
Thair sal be desyrit … pykkis, with small artailyery sik as double falcoun, single falcoun, togidder with bullettis for … double falcoun and single falcoun 1580 Inv. Wardrobe 300.
Ane singill falcoun of found markit with the armes of Bartanye 1596 Dalr. II. 184/15.
He adiunet sum french men, with sum kairted ffalcouns and feild peices 1601 Lennox Mun. 464.
Tua pareis falconis, and ane moyenattrib. 1533 Treas. Acc. VI. 160.
To Robene Gardnar … for ane falcoune stok Ib. 161.
For Orknay buttir to creische the falcoune quhelis(b) 1536 Fraser P. 222.
Sex fawcunnis vyth stok and quheill furnist a1578 Pitsc. I. 251/27.
Witht iij^c schott of small artaillȝie, that is to say mayan and batterit facouns and quarter fallcouns 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 175.
The whole cumpanies come furth … having with them tuo carted brazen pieces or faacones 1581 Rep. Mar & Kellie MSS. 35.
Of faccane bullatts. Of moyante bullatts, Of double and single falcan bullatts