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.
Besines, Besynes, n. Also: besienes, bessines, besinas, -nace, besynesse, besey-, beisines. [ME. besi-, besynes(se, bessynes, etc., var. of bisines(se Bissines.]
1. Industry, diligence. (Freq. in 16–17th c.)1375 Barb. ii. 587; Ib. x. 514.
Throw his wyt and his besynes 1397 Acts I. 208/1.
The schiref sal do al his besines to arest thaim 1400 Maxwell Mem. I. 140.
Lelyly with al besynes c1420 Wynt. v. 1344.
He settys hys besynes Till smore hys sone Ib. viii. 268.
In gret besynes wes he 1461 Liber Plusc. 395.
Throw gud life, trauale, and besinas 1488 Acts II. 208/1.
Diligently with all cure & besinace 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xlix.
Gevand his mind, with maist ernist besines, to serche the verite a1540 Freiris Berw. 423.
Thank this freir Off his bening gret besines and cure a1570-86 Maitland M. Fol. xxviii. 7.
Beseynes, not sleuthe
2. Diligent care or attention.a1400 Leg. S. ii. 940.
The besynes That he had of all the kirk
3. That on which one is engaged; occupation, business. (Freq. in 16–17th c.)c1420 Wynt. vi. 331.
Karoloman … drew hym fra all besynes 1461 Liber Plusc. 395.
To mel him with smal wrechit besines 1462 Peebles B. Rec. 145.
In a neidful erand or besynes 1513 Reg. Privy S. II. 380/2.
To cum within the realme and remane thairin in his besynes 1531 Bell. Boece I. 14.
Sic besines done … the ambassatouris war dispeschit 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 242.
Gif ȝe charge ws with ony besynes … in tymes cuming a1578 Pitsc. II. 49/7.
Thay durst nocht cum to the court … to reull thair bessines 1615 Melrose P. 201.
This our langsum and fashious besines c 1640 Maxwell Mem. II. 276.
Fordering his beisines in the exchacher
