A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1553
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Hand-ax, -aix, n. Also: -axe, -ex, -hax- [ME. handax(e, OE. hand-æx, ON. hand-ox.] A hand-ax; chiefly, a battle-axe. Also attrib. with schaft.1375 Barb. v. 606 (bath suerd and hand-ax). 1375 Ib. xii. 57 (the hand ax schaft fruschit in twa). 14.. Acts I. 388/2 (gysarms quod in Scocia dicitur handhax). ?1438 Alex. ii. 5785 (the mekill hand-ax in my hand). 1494 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 68 (thair defensabill geir, sic as … a handaix). 1522 Dunferm. B. Rec. 209 (ane hand ax). 1539 Ex. Processes No. V. Elphinstone v. Innes (xij halbertis and hand axis). 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 177 (lang walpynnis … sic as hand ex, jedburgh staif).
