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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Harnest, p.p. and ppl. a. Also: harnast, harneist, harnasyt, har-, hernessit. [e.m.E. harnest (1538), ME. harneyste, -nyst, -nessed, -nesed (1426), f. ME. harnes v. to equip with armour.]

1. Armed, in armour.(1) 1375 Barb. ix. 710.
Thai … tuk thair geir rycht hastily, And schot furth, fra thai harnast [E. harnasyt] war c1420 Wynt. viii. 5594.
Willame … harnast in his armyng all Wes clymand wpwart 1425 Acts II. 10/2.
That ilk gentilman … be sufficiandly harnest … with basnete [etc.] c1475 Wall. ii. 117.
Wallace was harnest on his body weyle 1567 G. Ball. 207.
Do weill is harnessit and wounderis bauld c1590 J. Stewart 19/157.
Ane lustie knycht all harneist one the greine 1596 Dalr. I. 14/6.
Thay mekle gret horse quhilkes being harnest beiris armed men of weir(2) a1500 Rauf C. 830.
Thay hard harnest men, thay hewit on in haist 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 49.
Schir Thomas Helcroft [etc.] … wer all harneist men c1590 J. Stewart 67/91.
Sum abiects thair helm and harneist veid 1596 Dalr. I. 179/22.
A troupe of harneste men

2. a. Mounted with ornamental fittings. 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 83.
A belt of crammassy hernessit with gold and braid … .Item, a belt of gold vnhernessit

b. Of a barrel: Fitted with a rimmed lid. 1622-6 Bisset II. 258/27.
All harnest harrellis, full of salt fysche