Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Inkhorn(e, n. Also: ink horne, inkorne, yncorne. [ME. ynkorne (1463), inkehorne (c 1440), enk-horn (1382).] An ink-horn. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1350.
[Aesop with] Ane inkhorne, with ane prettie gilt pennair 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 25.
For ane penhorne and inkhorne to the King 1561 Crim. Trials I. 416.
Ane penner and yncorne 1562 Edinb. B. Deeds 63.
Ane penner & ink horne 1581 Edinb. Test. IX. 185 b.
Sex gros of inkhornes 1632 Ib. LVI. 23.
Puitche inkhornis 1663–6 Household Bks. Archb. Sharp 27.
For a poket inkhornecomb. 1700 Edinb. Marriages 450.
Peter Mansfield, inkhorn turner

Also attrib. in penn & inkorne terme, a bookish term. (e.m.E. (1543-) inkhorn term). 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 179/9.
In youre langage be plaine ... escheuing baith the extremities alsueill in not using a rusticall corrupt leid, nor yett booke langage & penn & inkorne termes