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.
Kelchyn, -in(g, n. Also: kelchen. [Origin uncertain (but a priori prob. Gael. or ? Welsh). The Gaelic dictionaries (and also J. Cameron in Sources & Lit. Sc. Law, Stair Soc., I. 349) follow J. Macpherson Critical Dissert. (1768) 190 (and ultimately the Earl of Argyll quoted by Skene, see below) in conjecturing a Gael. *geall-cinnidh, as f. Gael. geall, OIr. gell a pledge, and cinne tribe, kin.] ‘A fine paid to the kinsmen of a person killed’; ‘the Cro, the Galnes, the Enach and the Kelchyn are different names of the “honour price” attaching to the various grades of early society’ (Cooper Reg. Maj., Stair Soc. ii, 276). —14.. Acts I. 300/1.
De kelchyn. Item, le kelchyn domini regis [F. gelchach le rei] est centum vacce; [etc.] … Item si vxor liberi hominis sit occisa vir suus habebit le kelchyn [F. son baron auera le kelchin] et parentes eius habebunt le cro et le galnes Ib. /3.
Of lee kelchyn. Item the kelchin of our lord the King is jc ky. [etc.] 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. (Lat. vers.) I. 104.
[Illustris Dominus Archibaldus Comes Arcadiæ me docuit quod Gailchen prisca Scotorum lingua, significat mulctam pecuniariam, quæ pro delicto alicui infligitur Id. Ib. (Sc. vers.) 174 a (iv. 38) and (erron.) Table, ii. 38 b.]
