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

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About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1375-1649

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Fine, Fyne, a. Also: fyn, fin, fayn, feyne. [ME. fyn(e, fine, fin (a 1300), OF. fin, fem. fine.] Of superior quality, excellent, choice, fine (in various senses): a. Of persons, or performers.1375 Barb. xi. 417.
Men … So gude, so hardy, and so fyne
c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 8.
The lark, the hevyns menstrale fyne
1535 Stewart 57101.
To seik him leichis that wer fyne and gude
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4750.
Fyschearis fyne Off men and wemen
1596 Dalr. i. 186/31.
Carancie … maid thame fyne freindes

b. Of various material things.a1400 Legends of the Saints vi. 279.
Preciuse stanys As sardiane, topias fyne
c1420 Wynt. i. 1655.
That payntyd ymage wyth colowrys fyne
c1420 Ib. ii. 51.
Hir basnet With othire armys gud and fyne
c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii. 408.
Fyne cawk eneuch
1495 Acts Lords of Council 428/2.
Woll … fyne merchand gude
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 33.
Flouris … fynest of smell
1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 395.
Ane … brig of fyn aistlar stane
a1568 Bannatyne MS 138 a/57.
Ane brechame and twa brochis fyne
c1590 J. Stewart 39/320.
His dag misga, the snapvark vas not fyn

c. Of cloth or garments.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxii. 503.
Ypolyt … wand it in clathis fyne
c1420 Wynt. iii. 225.
Thare robys fyne
1473 Treasurer's Accounts I. 33.
The fynast vellus for a gowne
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 318.
Frenyeis of fyne silk
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 138.
A curche of kersp allther fynest
1548 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 221.
Fyve quarterris fynnar welwote
1586 Grant Chart. 400.
Ane syde-nekit clok of fyne Franche blak
1628 Edinburgh Testaments LIV. 242.
Ane feyne new blew mat

d. Of metals, esp. gold or silver.(1) a1400 Legends of the Saints l. 856.
The spakis … of fynest steile
c1420 Wynt. iv. 1897.
That metalle, mad sa pure and fyne
c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace xi. 26.
Wapynnys off fyn steill
1513 Doug. xii. iv. 130.
In burnyst gold and finast alcomy
1615–6 Master of Works Accounts XI. 52 b.
Tua pund of fyne tyne for the … naillis
(2) 1375 Barb. xx. 304.
Ane cas of siluir fyne
a1400 Legends of the Saints xlvii. 196.
Of fyne gold a wrethe
c1420 Wynt. iv. 1892.
Symulacrys … Made off gold and sylvyr fyne
c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 396.
Fyne gold … Mar than in Troy was fund
1513 Doug. x. ix. 53.
Ane huge wecht of fynast gold
1567 Acts III. 39/1.
The fyne money of this realme
1590 Edinburgh Testaments XXI. 188.
Ten scoir … vnces of fyne and cours siluer
(3) 1525 Reg. Great S. 114/1.
Uncias argenti puri quod esset ad minus ellevin penny fyne
1554 Treasurer's Accounts X. 237.
Tua unce gold of xxii carret fyne
1584 Acts III. 311/1.
New money to be cunȝeit of thrie pennie fyne
1649 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 102.
That allwork … sall be elewin pennie fyne

e. Of food, drink, or medicine.1456 Hay II. 144/11.
A fyne small plesand wyne
a1500 Golagros and Gawane 83.
To feid him of that fyne fude
a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 248.
Boxis … with fine electuaries
1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 178.
At the samyn [breid] be of fyne stufe
1596 Dalr. I. 14/25.
We haue cheis nane fyner
1596 Ib. 27/21.
Ane … spring, of fyne, freshe and fair water

f. With abstract nouns. Offine force, by necessity. By fine force, by main force.c1420 Wynt. vi. 2538 (W).
In Sanct Mergretis Hope belif Off fyne fors thaim behuffit arif
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 26.
Off … fyne favour war thair faceis
1558-66 Knox II. 141.
That all that we did, we did by fyn force
1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8348.
Ane fyne fabill in that volume I fand
1567 Satirical Poems v. 127.
To mak ane ordour gude and fyne

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