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.
Quotation dates: 1399-1400, 1491-1585
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Legend, Legent, n. Also: legende, leg(e)and, legyand, legeant, -iant. [ME. legende (c 1340), F. légende (12th c.), med.L. legenda f. legere to read.]
1. A story of a saint's life.a1400 Legends of the Saints xiii. Prol. 108.
To Sancte March turnand myn hand As I in his legand fand a1400 Ib. xix. 16.
The legeand as I fand with-in 1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 223/2.
Mess bukis [etc.] … and with legendis of Scottis sanctis as is now gaderit and ekit be ane reverend father in God … Williame, bischop of Abirdene c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxx. 26.
In haly legendis haif I hard [etc.] a1538 Abell 40 a.
Wrsule With mony other wirginis … thare thai war martirit hes thare legent beris
b. The Golden Legend.a1400 Legends of the Saints xx. 17.
That I fand Of hyme in the goldine legende … I sal here vndo
2. A story or tale, esp. one of a person's life or notable deeds.(a) a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow ii. 57.
He wes the caus of feill ferlifull deidis, As his legend beiris witnes a1500 Ib. iii. 61.
I cast me nocht alday to glois in gloir, Or to langer legendis that ar prolixt c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 504.
This is the legeand [M. legeant] of my lif thought Latyne it be nane(b) 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 292/15.
Thai wald … follow the trasis of the wedow of Rome apone the quhilk thare is mater to mak a large legent c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii. 544.
How beit ȝe haif schawin furth ane small legent … sic storyis I cuir thame not ane prene c1550 Ib. 914. c1550 Ib. 653.
Allegeand baith the ald and new testamentis, Historyis, scriptouris, & vtheris lang legentis 1560 Id. Seven Sages 1662.
Than said the King, tell me furth that legent a1585 Polwart Flyt. 218 (T).
Or I thy trumperie try, And mak a legent of thy lyf
3. a. A passage of Scripture or of a saint's life read as part of divine service, a ‘lesson’.1491 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I. 256.
That nayne rede legendis bot at commavnde of the president bot gif thai be lymmit in the cheptour obefore 1491 Ib.
Quhay that cumis nocht to the first legende of ix lessonis … and to the first legende of the dirige … salbe reput absent fra that houre 1491 Ib.
Ane chorister … that can singe … epistoll, ewangilis and messis and legendis
b. A book containing the readings for each day's service, a lectionary.a 1500 Coll. St. Salvator 158.
Tua legends ane temporall and ane propyr 1555 Crail Ch. Reg. 65.
Item, ane new legeand of parchment in text hand, contenand the temporale, properte and comone of sanctis
4. a. A motto, inscription. b. A roll or list (of names).a. a1500 Henr. III. 114/15.
A bil he bure apone his brest abone, In letteris leill but les, with this legyand [v.rr. legend, legand, legiant]: O ȝowtht, thi flowris fadis ferly soneb. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 100.
Thocht he be nocht nowmerit amang the legend of papis
