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

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

Quotation dates: 1375-1400, 1456-1638

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Clene, Cleyn(e, Clein(e, adv. Also: clean(e. [ME. clene, OE. clǽne.]

1. So as to be clean; in a clean or neat manner.In some instances not clearly distinguishable from Clene,adj. used predicatively.1375 Barb. xviii. 213 (E).
Quhen the feld was clengit clene, Swa that na resistens was sene
a1400 Legends of the Saints xv. 90.
Ȝe schryfe ȝow of ȝoure synis cleyne
1456 Hay I. 170/21.
Peple in syn … ar nocht … sa happy as otheris that ar clene confest
c1460 Thewis Gud Wemen 85.
Pres nocht … to bee … our clen wesching onne verk dais
c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 1202.
His leg harnes he clappyt on so clene
a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 681.
The flure carpit and cled and couerit full clene
1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 395.
Sax pillaris … and seven bollis [= bowis] clein hewin
1542 Reg. Cupar A. II. 18.
Thay payand … ȝeirly to ws … xi b[ollis] of gude and clene dycht quheit
1597 Edinburgh Testaments XXXI. 1.
Ane dussane of clene dicht calf skinis
1634 Urie Baron Ct. 74.
The said day Magnus Milne at the milne of Cowie is ordeanit to sie the ferme cleine sheilit

2. Completely, entirely, altogether.In very common use after 1500. Also clene and clair, clene and law.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 123 (E).
Alexander … , that saw The king dystroy wp, clene and law, His land
1375 Ib. xvi. 363.
To hew Jedwort forrest sa clene, That na tre suld tharin be sene
1456 Hay I. 54/16.
Gude men of were sa clene war slayn doune, that thare was na men for to defend the toune
a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 125.
Gif thow of courtasie couth, thow hes forȝet it clene
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 325.
Qhen I the cure had all clene, & him ourcummyn haill
1513 Doug. i. i. 37.
Cartage … [to] bryng ontill finale rewyne, And clene distroy the realme of Lybia
1533 Boece iii. xxi. 123 b.
All evanyst sa clene that quhare the batell was sene na takin remanit
1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 161.
Œcolompadine wyl sweir … , that thow art clene out of the way
1569 Satirical Poems x. 205.
He sat hir clene at fredome By our aduyse
a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS cxxxv. 41.
To nycht the court sum gydis clene Thairin to morne dar not be sene
a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii. 59.
Exemed clene from loves lair, To work Apollo spyt
1590 Burel Pilgr. i. xiii.
For cauld thay wer discomfeist clene
(b) 1487 Brus xvi. 462 (C).
Thai … tald how that thar men war slayne So cleyne, that neir eschapit nane
1487 Ib. xviii. 239.
He thoucht … For till distroy so cleyn Scotland, That nane suld be thar-in liffand
1513 Doug. i. Prol. 113.
Nor ȝit sa cleyn all sudron I refus
1513 Ib. 497.
Bot first, I pray ȝou, grape the mater cleyn
15.. Clariodus i. 330.
Quhill all his painis worne war cleine away
a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xxx. 90.
I clein recant And cry for mercy
a1585 Maitland Quarto MS xvi. 14.
The poure peopill oppressand clein
1596 Dalr. I. 61/31.
Mony ane sawe the balkes of the same schip cleine consumed
1596 Ib. 258/8.
He gaue him selfe clein and clair ouer to al vice
1638 Ann. Banff I. 82.
To red and remowe their … muck clein out of the peathe
(c) 1584 Satirical Poems xlv. 897.
The first merchant he cleane forsuike
1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 37.
Quhilk causit the cuntrie to be cleane herijt
a1578 Pitsc. I. 75/15.
They put the Inglisch men cleane abak fra thair standart

3. Without addition; net.1542 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 153.
Tene kyngkennis of powder, weyand clene by the treis thre hundretht thre score poundis

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