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.
Hirn(e, Hyrn(e, n. [ME. hirn(e, hyrn(e, OE. hyrne.] A corner, nook, hiding-place. Usually in pl.(a) c1420 Wynt. i. 400.
Off wellys waveryde wawys wyde Oure hyrne and hyrst c1460 Consail Wys Man 170.
Lawte wald neuer … sek hyrnis in na degree 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 47.
Out of quyet hyrnys the rowt vpstartis Of thai birdis Ib. (Exclam.) 912/16.
All that thai fynd in hydlys, hyrn, or nuyk Thai blaw owt 1531 Bell. Boece II. 322/6.
Sekand defence of thair lyvis in sindry hyrnis of the said castell(b) 1535 Stewart 24512.
Herbis that in the mont than grew … in hole and mony hirne 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 110 (R).
In desert hirnes and sere wylde beistis den a1570-86 Doug.) Maitl. F. lxxxvii. 546. (
Thai war adred, … Syne in an hirne to hyde sone can thame hy 1590-1 Bruce Serm. iv.
The maist secret hirne of the conscience c1590 J. Stewart 14/76.
Tham chaceing thence in hirns, in hols, and brais 1587-99 Hume Tr. Conscience in Poems 112/47.
If thou … meane to hide any thing fra him, that knawis the leist hirne of thy heart1658 R. Moray Lett. 12 April.
That searches the very hirnes of the fountaines without looking after the streames
