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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Opin, Oppin, Opn-, v. Also: op(p)ine, -yn(e, -en, -oun, -inn-, etc., oppn-, hopn-. P.t. and p.p. also oipind, vpunt. Also: Apin. [ME. opene(n, oppene(n, (north.) op(p)yn, opne(n, oppnenn (Orm), OE. openian, opnian.]

Freq., in various senses, with adv. complements, as up, out, furth, on breid.

1. tr. To open, in various usual material applications. Also absol.(1) a1400 Leg. S. x. 163.
The dure thu opyne me Ib. xlvii. 74.
Opyn c1420 Wynt. iii. 58.
Sone a key thai gat And opynyt the chambure dowre witht that 1449 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 402.
That na merchand man of this burgh opin his both dorr to do ony merchandise … apon the Sondai a1500 Henr. Fab. 294 (Asl.).
Opinnit [v.rr. oppinit, oppinnit, oppynnit] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6074.
The king … Opinit windois and [etc.] 1572 Peebles B. Rec. I. 343.
That the eist port be nocht opynnit quhill v houris in the mornyng a1578 Pitsc. II. 83/22.
Opinitt c 1610 Lanark B. Rec. 121.
The kie til opin the dore —absol. c1475 Wall. v. 1018.
Opyn, he bad, the captayne cummand was(b) 1375 Barb. vii. 274.
And bad oppyn the dures swyth ?1438 Alex. ii. 3680.
Oppin 1442 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 6.
Oppinit a1568 Bell. Bann. MS. 3 a/133.
[Christ] Oppynit the port and coft our libertie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4825.
Oppinyng the port quhilk [etc.] 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 21.
Oppinand dure & vindois towart the septentrionall partis 1608 Crim. Trials III. 41.
Fals knaif, oppin the yett!(c) 1375 Barb. x. 176.
And quhen the ȝet Wes opnyt [E. opynnyt] Ib. 225. a1400 Leg. S. x. 166.
Thane he the dure opnyt hym to ?1438 Alex. ii. 419.
Opned 14.. Burgh Laws c. 75 (B).
In his wyndow opnyt 1513 Doug. ii. v. 31. a1538 Abell 95 a.
Opnit a1578 Pitsc. I. 361/31.
Oppnit 1600 Crim. Trials II. 150.
Opnit c1650 Spalding II. 175.
To sie if thay could get the yetis opnit Ib. 188.
That no booth dur durst be opnit on Wednisday(d) 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 208.
Thow … maid vp the haill lockis of the place and vpunt the haill durris thairof(2) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 733.
[He] The stekynges [of the gate] oppynned(3) 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 83.
Taken be the smyth that opinnit the lokkis … fourti demyis c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 937.
Scho … with hir keyis oppinnit the lokkis(4) c1420 Wynt. iv. 2654.
Or for chapmen … Till oppyn and to schaw thare pakkys 1490 Irland Mir. I. 145/26.
Eftir the boist be opynnit 1500 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 84.
With intimatioun that gif thai compeir nocht the saids provest and baillies will caus the said hous be oppinit a1540 Freiris Berw. 385.
Oppinnit 1543 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 113.
Oppinnit c1610 Melville Mem. 122.
Sche … oppenit a litle lettroun 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 125.
Oppenedproverb. 15.. Exch. R. XVIII. lxxiv.
Sum oppinnis thar pak and sellis na wair c1600 Montg. Suppl. ix. 75. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 701.(5) 1497 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 77.
To opin the burn at the vest gavil of the tolbutht 1531 Reg. Dunferm. 362.
Thai sall oppin the conductis thairof [dams] 1662 Peebles B. Rec. II. 51.
James Brotherstanes … aucht and should oppine his awne clois(6) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2807.
And apertly Gart opyn it [the grave] 1490 Irland Mir. II. 40/38. 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 211.
The graues … quhilkis wer opnit in thre sindrie pairtis 1647 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 78.
Befoir any … licience be grantit to raise or opin the eard(7) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1284, 1286.
The prest that purs opnyd swne And fand in it that lettyr dwne That he opnyd 1479 Highland P. II. 184.
The quhilk precept … I opinnit 1500–1 Acta Conc. II. 484.
Oppin 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 316.
And forther oppinnit the Quenis writting and [etc.] 1615 Highland P. III. 231.
Opned 1622-6 Bisset I. 201/32.
Oppynned(8) 1633 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B. 30.
Draist ȝour wyfes govne … and oipind the sleiwes(9) 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 281.
That … the lynt … be … oppynnit [etc.](io) 1513 Doug. vii. x. 32.
Than he that was cheif duke … Thir ȝettis suld vp oppin and warp wyde c1590 Fowler I. 117/138.
[He] was opning wpp his hand and palme and falding than his niwe 1591 Crim. Trials I. ii. 253.
Quhilk wichcraft … being fund and opnit out

b. In the above applications, in fig. contexts. Also absol.Also const. furth. c1420 Ratis R. 466.
Thir four wertewis … That beris the ȝettis of thi resone Tyll opin and stek with discreccione 1456 Hay I. 28/18.
Cardinalis that throu covatis opnyt the pitt of hell c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 45/11.
[Prayer] opinnis hevyne and schawis [etc.] Ib. 59/7.
Thow closis the waye of grace and opinnis the way of syn Id. Mir. I. 138/29.
Sche maid the key that opynnit the port of paradis Ib. II. 13/26.
Opynnis 1513 Doug. Direct. 28.
Oppynnand the gravis of smert iniquyte 1562-3 Winȝet I. 139/23.
[John Knox] hes oppinit the ȝettis of heuin to the faythful fatheris 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 106.
That shot to vice the portis hes oppinit plane a1578 Pitsc. I. 105/15.
And braid entreis oppinnit fourtht … to all kynd of defectioun and iniquitie c1590 Fowler II. 93/28.
Perceaving the port to be oppned to all new plattsabsol. 1456 Hay I. 31/29.
Ane [key] be the quhilk he has all hale powere till opyn and to steke, and that is callit the key of jurisdiccioun 1571 Misc. Spald. C. IV. 94.
To thame [sc. ministers] is giffin the keyis of the kingdome of hewin, to oppin, to steik, to bind, to lous [etc.]

c. To open (a shop, for business). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 282/31.
And na buthis to be opynnyt to his returnyng 1565 Reg. Privy C. I. 332.
And na sellaris be oppynnit bot thryis in the oulk for selling of thair geir

d. To cut open, open up (a human body or part of it). c1420 Wynt. v. 3372.
Hys guttys rawe, bath gret and small, And his kwnditys opynnyd [C. oppynnyt, W. opinnit] all Ib. viii. 1475.
Scho gert oppyn [C. opyn, W. opin] his body tyte ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 643.
Oure Lady saw his syd oppinnit with a speir 1531 Bell. Boece II. 512.
On the thrid day his wambe was opinit 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III. 125.
To the barbour that oppined my vaine 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 348.
My Ladie Angus … quha wes oppinit and bowellit

e. Appar., to cut open, gut (fish). 1483–4 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 49.
And that na fische be oppinit on the hie gaitt c1575 Balfour Pract. 582.
Quhen thay opin fish, thay luke not gif thay be missel fish or not

f. To lay bare, expose (a part of one's body). 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 105.
To sit doune in ane dure … and oppin his breist

g. To open up or lay open (a town to entry, a range of mountains to passage).(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2001.
The toun was opnit; all enterit that wald 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 10.
Les than to Grekis he oppynnit the cite a1578 Pitsc. II. 290/5.
And so thair vas ane monethis trewis taine … and the towne of Edinburgh to be opinit till evirie man to pas and repas(2) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 307/8.
West in Ewrop ar the montanis of Alpy opynyt be Hannaball capitane of Cartage to mak direct schort way to Rome

2. a. To spread apart or open out. a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 396.
Thare-for we pray thé, opyne thi hand & lat ws se that closyt wryt 1513 Doug. viii. xii. 93.
Hys large skyrt onbrede spred thame to ples With all his habyt oppynnyt thame to call 15.. Clar. ii. 856.
Phebus … Oppinit on bread the tender blomes quhyt c1530-40 Stewart Maitl. F. clv. 29.
Bot thow thame [hands] oppin patent as a poirt a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxvii. 7.
Opin vp the same [bible] and luik with single ei

b. fig. To opin one's house (of), to open or make available one's store of, be bountiful with. 1456 Hay II. 102/19.
And than gere opyn thy housis of thy provisiouns of cornis and wynis

c. fig. To opin one's hand, to be bountiful. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 277.
Thou giffis thame fude in tyme convenient, Thou oppinnis Thi hand and fulfillis all creaturis leiffand 1567 G. Ball. 20.
Thow opinnis furth Thy hand full gratiouslie

3. To open (one's mouth or throat). c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 106.
Thair hony throtis, opnyt fro the splene, With werblis suete did perse the hevinly skyes 1531 Bell. Boece I. xliv.
Thir Mussilis … opnis thair mouthis a litill abone the watter c1590 Fowler I. 276/27.
Me thinks … [the earth] hath opned vp the throate Off her great gulf to suallou me

b. To open (one's own mouth or lips), or c. Of God or Christ: To open (a person's mouth or lips), in speech. a1400 Leg. S. xxxv. 148.
Na ȝet thi lyppis suld nocht be Opnyt to pray the Trinite c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xiii. 35.
I sal opin my mouthe in parabilis 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 178/5.
Bot the psalmist desyrit the Lorde to oppin his lippis a1578 Pitsc. I. 116/22.
To mak his prayer orisoun and suplicatioun to Almichtie God to oppin his mouth to gif him knawledge 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 17 a.
Oppin thy mowth … & defend the gwid men 1641 Spalding II. 9.
Yit dar scho oppin hir inouthe agane

4. a. To open (one's eyes or ears). b. Of God or Christ: To (cause to) open (a person's eyes or ears), in the mental or spiritual sense.a. 1559 Knox I. 415.
Quhairby thay proclame to all that will oppin thair eiris to heir, or ene to se, quhat is thair pretence c1590 Fowler I. 126/18.
Be my self who tymelie suld foirsene To opned wpp the lowring lidds and windowis of my eneb. a1400 Leg. S. i. 705.
In that howre God hopnyt thar ewyn Ib. xvi. 826.
Opnyt c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark vii. 35.
Anon his eres war opnyt [P. openyd] c1590 Fowler II. 79/29.
Quhat euer conquerour haith not his eys opned … sal not … keip that that he hes conqueshed 1605 Melvill 587.
The Lord Jesus Christ oppine the eyis of the King and his consel to sie with quhom it is they have adoe

5. To open spiritually, make spiritually receptive (one's or a person's mind, will or heart). Variously const. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 518.
The wordis of wisdome quyknys gud mennis wyttis and opnis thaim to consaue vysdome 1490 Irland Mir. II. 73/13.
Gif thou will nocht opin the will and consent to Him wyt thai self 1533 Gau 61/33.
That He opnit thair wittis that thay micht onderstand the scripturs a1578 Pitsc. I. 379/11.
All the heartis of Scottland was opnit to the ressawing of hir grace 1623 Crim. Trials II. 537.
Eftir prayeris maid to God to oppin hir hairt and louse hir toung to confes the treuth

6. To make available, to vouchsafe, to grant.Also, const. up, to vouchsafe or provide (a means of achieving something).(1) 1456 Hay I. 261/25.
Alswele is the lawe opnyt for hir, gif ony wald sett crime on hir 1490 Irland Mir. I. 81/22.
The wattir of bapteme, that … opynnis to us the realme of paradice 1557 Cal. Sc. P. I. 197.
We have … in contemplatioun of youre requeist, oppynnit justice unto him(2) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 190.
To oppin up the meanes for the mair facill atteening to a gude peace

7. To reveal, disclose, declare or make known; also, to expose (something discreditable). Also const. out and up.(1) 1490 Paisley B. Rec. 40.
We charg you that ye … manifestly declare and oppin to all our liegis that it is our will [etc.] a1500 Bk. Chess 585.
Thus hir defoule sho opinnit to hir kyn 1533 Bell. Livy I. 19/28.
Opynyt 1533 Boece ii. iii. 62.
Ane of his complicis … opynnyt the tresoun 1543 Misc. Spald. C. II. 270.
His counsall … I sall nocht raweill nor oppin 1546 Reg. Privy S. III. 294/1.
And oppynnand the secretis of this realme tresonablie to Inglismen c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5227 (L).
And that man of iniquitie Till all men he sall oppynit be 1553 Knox III. 380. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 17/5.
Nochttheles ȝe haue oppinnit the samyn in the pulpet Ib. II. 33/10.
Mair cleirlie than the lycht the cause is oppinnit quhy [etc.] 1567 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lv.
Efter thai had oppinnit and declarit vnto hir hienes hir awin estait and condicioun 1570–2 Ib. lxii.
Bot ye may open some poyntis thairof as of your selffis 1570 Misc. Spald. C. II. 277.
Oppoun a1578 Pitsc. II. 174/28. 1588 King in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 214/34.
Oppening c1590 Fowler II. 54/8.
I oppin thy errour then 1592–3 Cal. Sc. P. XI. 43.
The King had opynnit to him how he had bene deccavit be Englishmen of before 1611 Crim. Trials III. 149.
Opnit(2) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 62/6.
To oppin out and mak manifest the hypocrisie of the fule(3) 1624 Melrose P. 644*.
The said Johnne sould haif gone to his pastour and oppynit vp his grief vnto him a1650 Row 16.
Or els thair inlaiks were supplied and doubtes opened up to them

b. To expound. Also to open up.(1) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 277/14.
& besekis ȝow as to my fader to opyn and schaw vnto me sum of the ald historys in tymes by passit 1535 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 159.
That this day vas set with avys of bath the parteis to oppin the preiffis and enter the hors(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 95.
But yit the word would be opened up, quhat we mean be the word ‘present’ 1600-1610 Melvill 147.
Ordinarlie ther, meall about, the students opened upe a chapter

c. To disclose or divulge (one's mind or heart). 1533 Boece v. v. 174 b.
He began to opin his lang dissimulit mynde 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6069.
O my gude Lord I oppin to ȝow my hart

8. To declare (war). 1456 Hay I. 232/7.
For sen were is opnyt betuene realmes

9. To initiate (a proceeding or business); to bring to notice, raise (a matter); to set on foot (an enterprise). 1471 Acts II. 101/1.
Al materis … that ar now opynit in this present parliament & vnendit 1549 Cal. Sc. P. I. 177.
[I would he had seen some of my service but will not] oppen [it at present] c1590 Fowler II. 147/17.
And another desist to oppen and invent some tred and traffique for suspicion of imposts … that may be exacted for him

10. Of a non-personal agency: To cause (something) to open or be opened or exposed. c 1420 Liber Calchou 449.
Hawntyng of lychery that bath infebyllys the kynde & oppynys the poris 1456 Hay II. 121/30.
Blude-lattingis … opnys the clos termes of the passagis of humouris 1513 Doug. viii. iv. 135.
Quhen the erd ourthraw … Ryvys vp a terribill sewch … Oppynnand the hellis mansioun infernall 1570 Sat. P. xv. 8.
Ȝe mariguildis, forbid the sune To oppin ȝow euerie morrow

11. intr. To be opened, in material senses. Also, to opin doun, and passive.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 688.
The selfe ȝerde opnyt wyde 1425 Liber Melros II. 545.
A ȝete closand and opynnand 14.. Burgh Laws c. 41 (B).
He wate nocht qwhar his dure opnys c1460 Vert. Mess (S.T.S.) 74.
The hewyne opnys c1515 Asl. MS. I. 302/30.
Than opinnit the hevinnis & ranyt xl dayis 1513 Doug. ix. i. 45.
I se the hevynnys oppynnyt and devyde Ib. xii. Prol. 128.
Hevynly lylleis, with lokrand toppys quhyte, Oppynnyt and schew thar creistis redymyte Ib. ii. v. 17; etc. 1535 Stewart 26492. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 68.
Thair wes ane cloud opynnand with four levis 1577 Edinb. Test. V. 340 b.
Ane ring of gold oppynnand with ane hand a1578 Pitsc. I. 379/7.
Quhilk caussit ane great clude come out of the heavins … and oppin in two halffis Ib. 244/16.
Opnit 16.. Johnston in Mill Mediæv. Plays 202 n.(2) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1200.
All the erd than opnyd down Sa wgsum(3) passive. c1420 Wynt. iv. 2084.
The erde clave and oppynnyd was

b. Of a door or the like: To open or face onto or towards (on, to, etc.) a place or direction. 1481 Peebles B. Rec. I. 189.
[To] brek dur and wondow opynand on the said wynd 1502 Prot. Bk. J. Foular I. i. 170.
That the dure abone the stare of Welchis land opinand to the said wind suld be closit 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2329.
In ane windo that oppinnit vp to the gait 1631 Linlithgow B. Rec. 11 Mar.
Ane opin dore … opinand wp wpone James Gibbisones ȝeard

c. To offer an opening to, to lead or conduce to. c1420 Ratis R. 456.
Irous entent … mouis men than for to do That schame and scaith opnis to