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.
Quotation dates: 1499-1533
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Cognis(s)ance, n. Also: cognyssance, -nycens. [ME. cognisaunce, variant of conisaunce Conisance.]
1. A heraldic device; a coat of arms. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 159.
It kythit be his cognisance ane knight that he wes 1513 Doug. xi. xiii. 64.
Ane Ornytus, ane huntar, … In armour and in cognycens onknaw 1533 Boece vi. i. 186.
The king … , denwding him of princelie cognissance, with few servandis … gaif him to fle
2. Knowledge, cognition. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 79/21.
His fader, … havand na cognissance that his sonnys wife was with chylde 1533 Ib. 225/14.
The faderis … held … mony private consultatiouns amang thame, sa quietlie that na men bot thame self had cognyssance thareof
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"Cognisance n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/cognissance>
