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.
Grene, Grein, Green, v. Also: greyn(e. [Northern ME. grene (a 1300), perh. a metathetic form of ON. girna.] intr. To desire earnestly, to yearn, to long efter, for something, to do something.(a) 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 45.
Sum grenys quhil the gyrs grow for his gray meir Ib. 52.
Sum grenys eftir a guse, To fars his wame full 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 114.
Sum feiris thair flesche, sum grenis to gadder crounis a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxii. 5.
Not that I grene ȝour honour to degraid Ib. xlviii. 164.
We will not grene to gang that gait agane(b) 1585 James VI Ess. 45.
How she greind not to go backe againe Ib. 67.
He.greind Ȝit fast for day, and thocht the nicht to lang a1605 Montg. Flyt. 94 (H).
Ȝe grein [v.r. Thow grenis] for to gaipe vpon the gray meir Id. Sonn. xxv. 2.
I grein to sie the sillie smiddy smeik 1603 Philotus lii.
Perchance thow greines that play to preif ?1549 Monro W. Isles 16.
The commons … puttis thair hand in the fat, & fynding it sweit greynes eftir the sweitnes thairoff 1680 Sempill P. 54/81.
I grein'd to gang on the plain-stanes(c) 1604-31 Craig ii. 72.
They green'd no more the Greekish soyle to see Ib. 73.
When the graue shall greene … And gape within her bosome to conteene Her child 1626 Garden Worthies 141.
From whence they come they green'd againe to gang
