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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.

German(e, Germain, a. Also: jerman(e, germaine, -mayne, -mein, -myn. [ME. german(e, -main, -mayn (1340), OF. germain, L. germānus.]

1. Of brothers or sisters: Having the same parents. (Usually placed after the noun.)(1) 1456 Hay I. 190/34.
Gif a brothir fand folk invadant his brothir germane 1495 Acta Conc. 429/1.
Sir Adam of Murray knycht brvther germane to Cuthbert Murray of Cokpule 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 82.
Wilyeam Stewartt, brudyr jermane to … Adward, bysschop of Orknay 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 460.
His germane brother mycht get no presence 1585 Acts III. 414/1.
The saidis Alexander and James … brither germane sonis 1601 Wemyss Corr. 39.
Hew Moncrief, brother jermane to William Moncreif 1613 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 317.
Patrick Gordoun … [and] Johne Gordoun his brither germane(b) 1454 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 261.
Jhon of Murrese, brother germanne to the said Vylȝame 1474 Reg. Morton II. 224.
Befor thir witnes … , James and John of Douglas, my brethir german 1555 Prot. Bk. D. Gray 5 b.
Awand to … his brother german the sowm of fourtty thre merkis 1596 Dalr. I. 275/12.
Quhen Kennethie was deid, succeidit his german brother Donald 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Eneya.
Gif there be three brether german c 1660 Honours Scotl. 114.
John Keith bruther jerman to the Earle Marshall of Scotland 1663 Blair Autob. ii. 21.
A Christian friend, was my german brother(c) 1478 Acta Aud. 84/1.
Johne Oliphant, bruder germain to lord Oliphant 1502 Montgomery Mem. 62.
Constantyn … broder germayn to Alexander Montgumerye 1523 Stirlings of Keir 323.
Robert Striuiling brudir germein to the said Wilȝem 1548 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 145.
William Gordon, … and Mr Alexander Gordon, … his germyn brother 1589 Reg. Morton I. 163.
Johnnne Logane, broder germaine to George Logane, portionar(2) 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 87.
[Dido] gan enbrays half ded hit systir germane Ib. x. xi. 4.
O thou my systir german and my feir 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 285 b.
Katerine Dog, my germane sister 1634 Brechin Test. V. 146.
Margaret Smythe, My germane sister

2. Of cousins: Full, first. ?1438 Alex. i. 1186.
This knycht … slew ane Romane, Philotis neir cousing germane 1456 Hay I. 191/33.
And [= if] I saw men ourthraw my cousyng germane Ib. 226/25.
His brether … or cousing germanis 1583 Colville Lett. 45.
Huntley his nephey, Mortoun his cousing germane 1622-6 Bisset II. 298/20.
The threttent discipill Cleophas … wes the lardis cousing german 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 152.
Mr Alexandeir Fergusson, … is the defenders coussing german

3. a. Closely related. b. Genuine.a. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 36.
Thow tirrane tressonable and germane to Judasb. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 403.
Thir godlie fruts dois also notefie Gyf we the … germane branchis be