Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Balance, n. Also: balaunce, balans. [ME. balance (c 1300), balaunce, OF. balance, med. L. balancea. More freq. in form Ballance.] A balance, pair of scales. Also fig.1456 Hay II. 77/18 (a balaunce in the quhilk thou sall pays all thy werkis); 82/10. c1420 Ratis R. 1191 (God has a balans lang and dreich). 1461 Liber Plusc. 393 (thow suld lay al hale the charge in thair balance). a1500 Henr. III. 171/41 (quhare is the balance of iust & equitee). 1511 Dundee Chart. No. 47 (ony wechtis or mesouris, as … balancis, … ).