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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLENCH, BLENSH, BLANCH, BLANK, adj., quasi-n., adv. A Sc. legal term. [blɛnʃ, blɑnʃ]

1. adj. As applied to holding of land: free or involving payment of a merely nominal rent.Sc. 1754 J. Erskine Princ. Law Scot. (1911) 159:
Blench-holding (not unlike the feudum francum of the Lombards) is that whereby the vassal is to pay to the superior an elusory yearly duty, as a penny money, a rose, a pair of gilt spurs, etc., merely in acknowledgment of the superiority, nomine albæ firmæ.Ags. 1721 Marriage Contract (per Fif.¹):
Both the sd. infeftments of the forsaid Annuitys to be Holden in free blench ferme.Ags. 1931 V. Jacob Lairds of Dun v.:
He paid a silver penny yearly in the name of blench farm to the Earl.

2. quasi-n.Sc. 1707 First Earl of Cromartie in Earls of Crm. (ed. Fraser 1876) II. 31:
I am to send up a signatur for chang[ing] my litle lairdship to blensh.Sc. 1710 Nairne Peerage Evidence (1873) 45:
Lands to be holden of us . . . in free blench for payment of two pennies Scots money.Ags. 1728 Private Document (per Fif.¹):
A liferent Annuity in favours of the said Mrs M — S — in free Blench for Payment of ane penny Scots Money . . . if the samen be asked allennarly.

3. adv. through ellipsis of in.Sc. 1700 Records Convention Burghs (1880) 299:
Holden few by them of the Marqueis of Douglas and of them blench by the heretor thereof.wm.Sc. 1710 Descr. Sheriffdom Lnk. and Rnf. (Maitland Club 1831) 51:
The Milnetoun . . . was anciently a part of the baronie of Mauldslie, but heth these many years bygone been holden blanch of the king. [On p. 15 it is spelt blench.]Sc. 1876–1880 W. F. Skene Celtic Scotland (1890) III. 264:
1880. The thanage of Tannadyce . . . was granted . . . to [him] and the heirs of his body to be held blank for payment of a red falcon.