Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

G(u)erdoun, Guardo(u)n, n. Also: guerdon, gwerdon, -oun, gwardoun, gwairdoun. [ME. guerdon (a 1366), gwerdon, gerdoun, gardoun, etc., OF. guerdon. See also Gardon(e, n.] A guerdon, a reward.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 5438.
God gif ȝow meid Thi great guerdoun [F. guerredon] and foredeid Ib. 6037.
God … gif me grace [to] mak guerdoun a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 422.
Traistand to haue of his magnificence Guerdon [B. gwairdoun], reward, and benefice bedene c1500-c1512 Dunb. xix. 34.
Than will thay murmour … That I sa lang but guerdoun [M. gwerdon] gang 1533 Bell. Livy II. 174/11.
Claudius … said the largitioun … was oure prodigal … but ony respect to thame that best or leist guerdoun [B. gwardoun] deseruis 15.. Clar. ii. 1710.
Ane greater guerdoun for to have thay servit a1568 Scott xxvi. 62.
Thay wald haif wating on alway, But gwerdoun, genȝeild or regaird(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 3377.
In all gerdoun I pray that ȝe Me leif to pas to that melle!(c) 1533 Bell. Livy II. 70/35.
That na thing mycht be sufficient guardoun thareof bot only the kingdome of Romanis 1622-6 Bisset I. 112/23.
To incuraige all sic as ar furnisched with meriting giftis to accept guardonis … dew to thair vertews