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

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

Link, n.¹ Also: lynk, linck, lyng-, lenk, leink. Plur. linkis, etc., lynx. [Late ME. (c 1440) and e.m.E. lynk(e, lynck(e, link, e.m.E. also lenk (1505), ON. *hlenk-r (lcel. hlekk-r, OSw. lænker, mod. Sw. länk, Da. lænke).]

1. A link of a chain (also, of chain-mail). Also attrib. with -chenȝe. c1450-2 Howlat 606.
Thir four scheldis … War chenȝeit so cheualrus, that no creatur Of lokis nor lynx mycht lous worth a lence 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 83; etc.
A grete chenȝe of gold contenand of linkis thre score and a lynk 1515 Montgomery Mem. 85.
Ane chenȝe of gold … contenit in leinkis thre scor and xij leinkis 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 294.
For the mendeng of tua lenkis of cheyne to the woill the pric viii d.attrib. 1526 Treas. Acc. V. 257.
For j pair of lyng chenȝeis bocht and deliverit to the ȝeman of the wardrop … vij s.

b. A chain. 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 236.
For thre lang yrne linkis to the kirk iij s. 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 125.
Ane lang leink to the knok iij s.

c. The link(is) of the cruik, the chain of the chimney-‘crook’ or pot-hook. 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 237.
Thay patt the catt thryis throw the linkis of the cruik 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 107.
For remedie quhairof [sickness], the said Helen bade the said Christene tak the haill cheikennis … and draw tham throw the link of the cruik

d. plur. Some instrument of punishment; ? shackles, fetters. 1570 Peebles B. Rec. I. 325.
Quhatsumeuer personis, wemen, mennis wiffis, or vtheris … , that is found flytand on the Hie Gait … to be put sax houris in the linkis

e. fig. Fetters, bondage; a secure bond or bonds of steadfastness or unity.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2425.
The foxe the feynd I call … Actand ilk man to ryn vnrychteous rinkis Thinkand thairthrow to lok him in his linkis c1590 Fowler I. 62/1 14.
How Lowe so leading ws in linkis did so ower ws surmount(2) a1500 Henr. III. 171/46.
Trew lufe is lorne & lautee haldis no lynkis [: binkis] 1558-66 Knox II. 316.
Be this lynk hes God knytt togitther the prince and the people

2. a. A loop or twist (of a snake's body). b. A joint of the body. 1513 Doug. v. v. 65.
The eddyr … In lowpis thrawyn and lynkis of hir hyde c1700 Sibbald Autobiog. 17.
[He] dislocat a link of his back