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.
Ground-stane, n. Also: -staine, -stone. [Cf. Grund-stane.] A foundation-stone; freq. fig.1553 Treas. Acc. X. 207.
To the masonis … in drinksylver, at the laying of the ground stane of the palice of Kynnele 1567 G. Ball. 201.
Land and money … Quhilk is the ground staine of thair queir And rute of all thair pryde 1581 Burne Disput. 149.
Ve afferme … that the kirk is nocht the pillar nor groundstane of the treuth 1590-1 Bruce Serm. 298.
It may remain a sure foundation and groundstone to us 1636 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 190.
I was … digging at the groundstone, the love of my Lord, to shake & unsettle it
