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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Morn(e, n. Also: morin(e, -yn, moirne, mourne [ME. and e.m.E. morn(e (Cursor M.), ME. mor(o)un (13th c.), -en, etc., morȝen (13th c.), moreȝen, mor(e)ghen, morwen (13th c.), etc., OE. morᵹen (also marᵹen, merᵹen): cf. Morrow.]

1. The morning, the early part of the day.Freq. at (also on) morne, in the morning; also plur.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 392.
Euill nichtbour makes euill morne [F. Mau voisin, mau matin] a1500 Henr. Fab. 1780 (Bann.).
I movit furth betwene midday and morne 1456 Hay II. 60/13.
The vignerainis labouraris had wroucht … fra the morne early [sic in pr.] till nycht 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 7.
Reddy he [Phebus] was to entyr the thrid morn In clowdy skyis vndre Capricorn 1535 Stewart 14366.
Fra morne airlie that tha mycht ken the lycht Continewallie thai faucht on to the nycht(2) a1400 Leg. S. xi. 356.
[The apostles] sperit quhen the barne wes borne & men sad thame, ‘This day at morne’ c1450-2 Howlat 1. a1500 Seven S. 203.
He spak full weile the day at morne 1513 Doug. iii. viii. 29.
Be this the dawyng gan at morn walx red 1523 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 71.
Wolle Turnbyll com our to Hassindan upone ane Sondaye at morn 1535 Stewart 49384.
This ȝoung Douglas … Airlie at morne tuke with him seruandis thre 15.. Clar. iii. 269. 1547 Edinb. Hammermen 173 b.
Vpon Ȝuell day at morne c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 827. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6027. 1567 Sat. P. iii. i.
To Edinburgh about vj houris at morne, as I was passand a1578 Pitsc. I. 209/5.
I was ȝour king this day at morne — ?1438 Alex. ii. 27.
On morne [F. Au matin] quhan brichtin day had dicht … The King he rais 1506 Edinb. Hammermen 58 b.
To the boy at kepit … the graitht one the morne to the derigeplur. 1456 Hay II. 129/5.
Than suld men drynk gayte milk on mornis, and efter nane [sic. in pr.] drynk temperit drynkis c1460 Thewis Wysmen 353.
One mornys thai luf weill to slep c1500 Fyve Bestes 139.
And wele he vsit for to rys at mornys To kepe the grange [etc.]

b. In collocations with evin.Be evin and morn, (baith) at evin and (at) morn, evin and morn, also = morning and night, at any time, at all times, always. ?1438 Alex. ii. 654.
For my richt arme sall of be shorne Or he thé wed, be evin or morne c1450-2 Howlat 195.
Cryand crawis and cais … That … Will cum to the corne ȝard At ewyn and at morn 1456 Hay II. 124/37.
Metis that ar ressavit in the stomak at evyn ar mare prouffitable … na the metis that ar tane at morne a1500 Henr. Fab. 1726 (H).
It wes grit ioy … To se thame labour baith at evin and morne c1515 Asl. MS. I. 252/25.
Thair was twa cometis sene in the lift ane at morne and the tother at ewyn 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 516.
Humanitie and Trew Relatioun Bene ischaris of his chalmer morne and ewin Id. Æn. iii. vi. 123.
Ane narow fyrth flowis baith evyn and morn Betwix tha costis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3392.
Sa weill I culd thé feid. … Airlie at morne, and als at euin lait 1597 St. A. Kirk S. 833.
That catichesing of the pepill be duly heireftir morne and evin and the minister to begyn to morn

c. Attrib. and comb.(1) c1460 Consail Vys Man 187.
Tak not delyt in morne slepinge, Wntymous eting na drynkynge c1515 Asl. MS. I. 193/12.
With na morne slepis 1558-66 Knox I. 175.
And tharefore qwyetness … and a morne sleap was requisite for my lord(2) 1489 Dunferm. B. Rec. 17.
Qwhilk Marione Thomsone lewit to the morne mes for hir sall 1511 Treas. Acc. IV. 180.
For offerand to tua morne missis and at the hie mis 1539 Craven Ch. in Orkney III. 147. 1557 Rankin St. A. Ch. 64. — 1494 Dunferm. B. Rec. 54.
Als lang as he seruit the morne seruice(3) c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 102.
Quhen Marioun frome the midding gois, Frome hir morne turne scho strypis the nois(4) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xii. 23.
He sal mak to cum doun to yov morn rayn and laat rayn Id. Apoc. ii. 28.
I sal geue to him a morn stern Id. Matth. xxvii. i.
Quhen the morntide was cummyn Id. Mark xv. i. 1645 Rutherford Tryal Faith (1645) 269.
A glimmering of morn-dawning light

d. In the salutation Gud morne. a1500 Henr. Fab. 434 (Bann.).
Gude morne, my maister, gentill Chanteclere Ib. 2790.
Gude morne, Deme Mows, quhat is ȝour erand heir? 1535 Stewart 39714, 39716.
‘The Thane of Glames, gude morne to him,’ said scho. The secund said withoutin ony scorne. ‘ … God ȝow gude morne!’

2. The following morning.Passing into next sense.(1) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 63 (A).
And giff he be tane on nycht … he salbe ȝemyt … quhil the morne a1500 Rauf C. 322.
Agane the morne airly He ordanit him ane laid a1508 Kynd Kittok 18.
Scho slepit quhill the morne at none, & rais airly 1516 Caldwell Fam. P. 53.
Quhill the morne thairefter att ten houres befoir noine 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1579. 1588 Crim. Trials I. ii. 162.
And that scho wald be in hir bed haill and feir, and wald nocht wit quhair scho wald be or the morne c1610 Jok Uplandis Newis 4 b.
The morn comis and the guid man … ryses werie timouslie(2) 1375 Barb. v. 114 (E).
Till on the morn that day wes licht a1400 Leg. S. ii. 325.
One the morne weil ayrly Ib. ix. 115, xl. 1009, 1417. ?1438 Alex. ii. 7545.
Upon the morne [F. L'endemain par matin] the gude king rais Ib. 434. c1420 Wynt. v. 2844. Ib. vi. 1221, viii. 5324. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 63 (A).
& on the morne he sall bring thaim [his fish] hallily to the Kingis merkat to sell 1456 Hay I. 289/25. a1500 Rauf C. 363. a1487 Gud Wyf & D. 132.
Schaym is today be quhit and rede And vallowit on the morn as lede a1500 Seven S. 660. Ib. 1751. 1509 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 45.
One Salmes daye eftyre nounne and one the morne forrowe noyne to gar praye for mye faderis saule 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. 154 (10 Oct.).
We dischargis all nycht waikeris [etc.] … to be put in the stokis one the morn 1535 Stewart 23913. Ib. 46949. 15.. Clar. v. 2560. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1085. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 224. Ib. 614. a1578 Pitsc. I. 69/10.
Wpoun the morne they brocht him out and hangit him 15.. Black Bk. Taymouth 157.
Vpone the morne he mist hir to the pleuch 1570 Leslie 95.
On the morin the Inglis men caused seik the body of Kinge James 1597–8 Misc. Spald. C. I. 121.
And yit thow will find thy selff in a mos on the morne(3) 15.. Clar. ii. 1293.
How that the King at morne sould make him boune To se the justing upon the letter day(4) a1500 Seven S. 1336.
This wyf rais in the morne airly Ib. 1548.

b. The morne-day, = next sense. a1400 Leg. S. xl. 462.
& al thai schrawis … bad thare til the morne-day c1420 Wynt. iv. 360.
Quhille on the morne day … He … tauld his dremyng a1500 Seven S. 2509.
Quhill the morn day girth I him gif

3. The following day.(1) 1525 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 75.
To geiff him frist quhill the morn aucht dayis a1538 Abell 93 a.
Or nwn of the morne 1544 in Tytler Hist. Scotl. (1864) II. 401.
My lord governor tuke to be advised while the morne at even 1557–8 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 177.
Continewit thair interlocutour … to the morne vizt. the auchtene day of Marche 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 83. 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 218.
To bid him be reddie against the morne (as he was appointed before to that day) 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 346.
Bot or the morne he fand remeid 1596 Dalr. II. 75/10. 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 18 Aug.
The court fensit, suittis callit, wes continowit to the morne c 1683 Wodrow MS. in Sharpe Witchcr. 157.
To this answered, ‘That matters not, tho’ it were the night before the morn, if they go to heaven'(2) 1375 Barb. xviii. 67.
Thai Suld hald thar fais all that day Doand, and on the morne alsua a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 197.
One the morne, in the mornyng, Sir Eustas … Passit furth Ib. xxxiii. 105. ?1438 Alex. i. 78.
On the morne, in the morning, Richt as the day begouth to spring c1420 Wynt. iv. 2354.
Off the nycht neyst gane beforne That Julyus slayne wes on the morne Ib. v. 920. 1456 Hay I. 269/18. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 869.
Sum on that day and sum vpoun the morn 1471 Ayr Friars Pr. Chart. 53.
And gyf thai be nocht disposyt that dai to say on the morn c1475 Wall. vi. 263. 1533 Boece v. iv. 170.
Thai suld convene on the morne [L. postridie] c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 327. 1566 Crim. Trials I. ii. 485.
On the morne, being Sounday, we wer befoir noyne in the kirk 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 61.
Doun to Dunbartane on the morne at none He raid 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 18. a1634 Forbes Rec. 404.
To compear befor the counsell upon the morne at sevein houres in the morning(b) 1473 Lindores A. 167.
On the eyn off his obit to say placebo and dirgy, and on the moryn a mes perpetually to be down a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 39.
And on the morine the said towne was renderit to the Regent(c) 1621 Bentinck Dornoch 190.
To tell him that upoun the mourne they sould come to his lands

b. Fra morne to morne, from one day to the next, from day to day, indefinitely. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 486.
Wa be till him that hurdis up his corne, Syne kepis it up to dearth, fra morne to morne

4. The morn, used adverbially without prep.: = on the following morning or following day. 1550 Reg. Privy C. I. 101.
To compere befoir my Lord Governouris grace [etc.] … the morn 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 214. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6183.
The morne airlie the seige was confirmit 1564 Crim. Trials I. i. 449. 1565 Conv. Burghs I. 465.
The commissioneris … to convene the morne be vj houris in the morneing 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 123. 1588 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. I. 106.
[She] would not wytt where she would be the morn 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 431.
Thinking to slay him the morne 1600 Acts IV. 204/1.
The morne eftir four houris in the morning they raid … to Falkland 1617 Ritchie Ch. S. Baldred 161.
[They] answeirit that thair pleuche was to yok tymouslie the morn 1619 Misc. Bann. C. I. 207.
The morne, being Monday the 14th of June, I was send for by Secretar Colvard 1666 Jurid. Rev. XXIV. 20.
My friend came up to me the morn again about eleven hours a1700 Mare of Colinton i. 51.

5. The morning or the day (nixt) eftir (a particular day, stated or implied).Also used adverbially without prep., as prec. sense. Also the nixt morne efter, the morne nest.(1) 1451 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 88.
We ar informit yhe haue set the morne efter the fest of the purificacioun of our lady to spede that mater c1515 Asl. MS. I. 207/28. 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 324/2. 1519 Fife Sheriff Ct. 161.
Continu[i]t to the morne nixt eftir the said courte 1560 Digest Justiciary Proc. C. 13.
Quhilk seditioun … the said proweist and bealleis … differit to the morne nixt thairefter 1604 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 446.
That the said Marjorie besoght God that the boche and glengor mycht be in the toune or the morne theraftirproverb 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 113.
Vnto that tyme which will not be till the morne after dovmesday, and not then(2) 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38. 1398–9 Acts I. 211/2.
On the morne efter the fest of Saint Martin that nest commis 1425 Ib. II. 11/2. 1456 Hay II. 42/1.
And on the morn efter … thare mon be grathit a solempne messe 1469 Acts II. 95/2.
That thair be na faris haldin on haly days bot on the morne tharefter 1472 Lennox Mun. 92.
On the morn nyxt after the Ascensioun Day cum a ȝer 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 62. 1563 Prot. Bk. G. Grote 48. 1587 Acts III. 459/1.
Upoun the morne efter the cuming of the saidis iustice deputtis … thay sall begin and fens thair air(3) 1477 Peebles B. Rec. I. 182.
Apon the Tyssday, the morn efter, the forsaid balyeis passit to the alter 1560 Bk. Disc. (1621) i. 2.
To conveen the morn after the preaching 1570 Sat. P. x. 191.
Than come thir lords, the nixt morne efter, hame a1578 Pitsc. I. 55/29. 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Repotia, drinkingis … the morne efter the mariage 1596 Misc. Spald. C. II. 133.
And the morne thairefter the said Thomas cumand to seik his said scheip … culd nocht find the samm(4) 1416 Liber Melros II. 539.
Appon the morne nest the saide Fastirnisewin

6. The morne. = Tomorrow.Cf. To-morn(e.a. As noun. Also on the morne.(1) a1500 Rauf C. 286.
Is not the morne Ȝule day, formest of the ȝeir? a1500 Seven S. 263.
Schir, garris kepe him quhill the morne 1563–4 Perth B. Ct. 4 (14 Jan.).
The said jugis … hes assignit the morn to the said Alexander to preiff his libells 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 137. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 600.
Gif ye will not, ane other will, the morne is the nix[t] day Ib. No. 1865.
Ye will loupe til the morne or [etc.] 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 45. 1638 Bk. Univ. Kirk App. xxi.
Produce it in writt against the morne 1664 Dumbarton B. Rec. 83.
The quhilk day, the morne being the Sabboth day … , it is ordanit [etc.] 1685 Sinclair Satan's Inv. World 218.
Send us maire meat or the morn 1686 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 168.
And before the morne at night the wholl jurneymen to subscryve the said bond(b) 1600 Conv. Burghs II. 69.
The commissioneris … continewis thair non meiting agane quhill the moirne at efter none(2) 1514 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 151.
The said Thomas … to devoyd betuix this and the morn 1543 Reg. Morton I. 5.
That the said house be deliverit betuix this and the morne ten houris befor none 1585 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 206.
Sall pey betuix and the morne at ewin the tent day(3) ?1438 Alex. ii. 384.
Than on him that will cum today And on the morne [F. demain] will pas away 1649 Elgin Rec. II. 435.
To be in readiness to disput on the morne

b. Used adverbially without prep.(1) 1375 Barb. xiv. 478.
Thai thynk, the morn, quhen it is day, To seik ȝow a1500 Henr. Fab. 861 (H).
My celsitude … Thinkis the morne … to hald ane parliament a1500 Rauf C. 299.
Cum the morne to the court and do my counsall Ib. 304. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 98. a1500 Seven S. 2236. 1550 Digest Justiciary Proc. B. 11.
That … the said Williame … salbe fred furth of the castell … the morne c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 335. 1556 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lii.
Tryffillis of na greit valu quhilkis mon be heir the morne be xij houris at the farthest 1569 Reg. Privy C. I. 669.
As my Lord Regentis grace intendis … to tak jornay the morne the aucht day of this instant 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 143. 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III. 479.
Ane messinger … that departis the morne at the farrest 1570 Breadalbane Lett. 22 July.
I sall be at ȝow the morn at evin 1582 Wemyss Corr. 77.
To resort towartis yow … the morne in the morning 1595 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 139. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 972.
It wilbe a fair day the morne, the dew fallis airlie the nicht 1618 Inverness Rec. II. 152. 1633 Maxwell Mem. II. 228.
The morne, the towne of Edinburgh moosteris and makis swndrie bonie pastymis 1644 Baillie II. 178. 1650 Rec. Old Aberd. II. 43.
Intimatione that the poore of the paroch conveine the morne Monday 1672 Rothesay B. Rec. 231. 1693 Answ. Presb. Eloq. 67.(b) ? 1614 Melrose P. 137.
If he can get it the morine or any vther day before the end of the oulk [etc.](c) 1600 Conv. Burghs II. 69.
To meit and confer with thame … the moirne eftir the sermone(2) 1543 Prestwick B. Rec. 58.
To produce his warand the morne xiiij days

c. Mornes night, tomorrow night. 1694 Curiosities Charta Chest 57.
And this to continue till mornes night

d. Uther morn, the day after tomorrow.Also e. This day, the morn and other morn, = repeatedly, constantly. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1572) T ii. b.
He hes prayit me to remane vpoun hym quhill vther morne [L. in diem perendinum] 1599 Wemyss Corr. 36.
That ȝe faill nocht … to send ws the same hacquenay the morne or vther morne at the fardest 1599 Rollock Wks. II. 459.
And hearest thou this day, the morn and other morn, and yet wilt thou not believe?

7. In generalised or fig. applications of prec. senses: = (in) the (more or less near) future, (on) ‘the morrow’, afterwards.(1) 1596 Dalr. I. 38/9.
Nocht kairing as it was for the morne 1630 Rutherford Christ & Doves 28.
Let us be content with an hard bed, the morn will be a good day(2) 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 154.
Glore not of that quhilk may chance the morne Id. Facile Tr. Pray. 8.
That … I may … ryse the morne with a ioyful hart 1635 Dickson Wr. 24.
Those who promise to repent the morn, beguile themselves, and not him 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1751) 52.
He knows not how to dine the morn

b. Freq. in antithesis to the (this, to) day, the nicht, ȝistrene, also ane day and at evin.Common in proverbs or proverbial expressions.(1) a1500 Henr. III. 107/28 (Makc.).
The day a kyng, the morne na thing to spend 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 370.
Formast this day, the morne may go behind Ib. 216. 1535 Stewart 1470. Ib. 1488.
Do nocht this da the morne that ȝe will rew a1568 Bann. MS. 94 b/42.
The nycht the court sum gydis clene Thairin the morne dar nocht be sene Ib. 77 a/31. 1567 G. Ball. 234. a1578 Pitsc. II. 44/11. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 921.
Kisse me the night I wil ryd the morne a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 440. 1635 Dickson Wr. 7.
Art thow like a man who this day makes a fast covenant, and will change or disannul the morn? 1692 Presb. Eloq. (2 ed.) 85.
Many had religion the day, but would have none the morn(2) c1540 Lynd. Syde Taillis 65.
Kittok that clekkit wes ȝistrene, The morne wyll counterfute the Quene(3) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 496 (Wr.).
Oft tymes deferring of ane day Micht not be mend the morne(4) 1567 Sat. P. iii. 7.
Ane king at euin … At morne bot ane deformit lumpe of clay

c. Attrib. — 1456 Hay II. 96/2.
For ȝit wate thou nocht quhat to morne will bring thé, For thare is na man in erde that wate his morn fortune