A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1420, 1499-1512
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Dern(e, n. [ME. dern(e, OE. dyrne.] a. Secret, secrecy; obscure language. b. A secret place, hiding. c. Darkness.Only in verse, and usually in the phr. in(to) dern.a. a1400 Legends of the Saints l. 444.
Balaan spak of the sterne That Crist betakynt in to derne c1420 Wynt. viii. 4721.
Off this fycht qwhilum spak Thomas Off Ersyldowne that sayd in derne [etc.] a1500 Henr. Robin & M. 7.
My dule in dern bot gif thow dill, Dowtles but dreid I de a1500 Ib. 39. a1500 Golagros and Gawane 110.
The tothir drew hym on dreigh, in derne to the dure a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 627.
Pilat … callit Ihesu befor him into derne c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 9.
I drew in derne to the dyk to dirkin efter mirthis c1500-c1512 Ib. 192.
Into derne, at the deid, he salbe drup fundinb. a1500 Henr. Fab. 747.
Unto ane derne for dreid he him addrest, Under ane busk a1500 Ib. 1704.
The lark on loft, with vther birdis haill, Than drawis furth fra dernec. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 10.
Haill, silk to graipe, to sicht rycht lycht in dern c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxxv. 3.
Haile, sterne superne, … Lucerne in derne, for to discerne Be glory and grace devyne
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"Dern n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/derne_n>
