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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.

Cane, Cayn, n.¹ Also: can, chan; caene, cayne, cain. [Gael. cáin (gen. cána, cánach), rent, tribute, fine. Latinized as canum and cana. See also Kane.] A payment in kind made by a tenant, in later use esp. in poultry (see Cane fowl).(a) c 1120 Liber Calchou 4.
Decimam caseorum de can c 1150 Ib. 6.
Decimam animalium et porcorum et caseorum de can a 1153 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 12.
Sciatis me dedisse … totam decimam meam de meo chan in animalibus et porcis … nisi tunc quando ego ipse illuc uenero … meum chan comedens 1160–4 Liber Calchou 311.
Quicunque can nauium de Perth susceperit c 1190 Reg. St. A. Priory 45.
[Terram] liberam … a can et cuneveth et exercitu et auxiliis 1203–22 Ib. 296.
Ecclesiam de Brennath [in Moravia] sine can, sine cuneueth, sine conrediis 1408 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 221.
In to the cause … twouchande a caene of corne to be ressavit of the schyre of Kingorne 1473 Stirlings of Keir 241.
With … aueragis, cariagis, and cane 1483 Acta Conc. II. p. cxxxiii.
To distrenȝe the said Iohne … for the said fermes, male, cane and dewities 1546 Reg. Privy C. I. 51.
[To] be answerit … and payit of the Lames dett … with the nixt Alhallowmes cane of the saidis landis 1561-2 Ib. 199.
That factouris and chalmerlanis be appointit to … ressave … all and sindrie … canis, proffittis, and dewiteis, of quhatsumevir benefices 1568 Chart. Crosraguel I. 180.
The maillis, fermeis, canis, customes, hariage, kariage, and wthiris dewiteis 1587 Acts III. 500/1.
The charter … off all and sindrie … canis, seruices, almesis, dailsiluer, obitis [etc.] 1602 Reg. Privy C. VI. 416.
[To cause Makrie to satisfy pursuer] in cane and caver, as the said compliner hes payit and yit payes to his Hienes comptrollar(b) 1507 (1251) Reg. Great S. 670/2.
Concessit … xiv nummatas terre … liberas ab omni cain, conevethe, feact, slogad, et ich 1561 Reg. Dunferm. 457.
Being the haill coill as superplus with caines xxxiv poultrie, carrages [etc.] 1565 Inchaffray Chart. 161.
Ony mailes, fermes, … teind schaves, caynis, multuris, … wont to be payit to the abbay 1588 Exch. R. XXI. 321.
The fermes, caynis, customes, and deweties of the croip and yeir of God [1587] 1594 Douglas Chart. 313.
The haill fructis, mailes, … rentis, caynis, … teyndscheuis … pertenyng to the said … Erle 1605 Melville Chart. 147.
Commanding the lordis auditouris of oure chekker to defais and allow yeirlie the fermes, caynis, and customes a 1637 Exch. R. I. 23.
Ane chairge of silver, victuals, and caynis, perteaning in evrie schyre to the king 1642 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 151.
The few-maills, few-fermes, caynes, customes, and utheris rents 1654 Mun. Univ. Glasg. I. 321.
All … the lands belonging to the late Bishoprick of Galloway, … with all fewfermes, fewdewties, caynis, customes and casualities

2. Attrib. with aitis, capone, cheis, pete, quheit, salt. Also Cane fowl. 1538 Reg. Dunfermline 387.
lv [= 55] solidis pro undecim bollis auenarum dicte lye cayne aitis 1600 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 511.
Sex bollas auenarum wulgo cane aittis — 1561 Liber Scon 217.
Certayne cayne capones — 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Canum.
This word, cane, signifies … tribute or dewtie, as cane fowles, cane cheis, cane aites — 1617 Acts IV. 571/2.
The manis of Grenelaw with the cayne peittis … of the baronie of Crocemichaell — 1561 Liber Scon 217.
In cayne quheit — 1520 Wemyss Chart. 144.
The said tak … of the cole, colehewis, cane salt, and pan malis of the Wester Wemys