A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Leinth, n. Also: leynth(t. [Appar. var. of Linth n., with which the comparatively few occurrences noted appear to agree in geographical distribution, rather than of Lenth n. : cf. the similar variation of form of streinth, strinth, Strenth n.Doubtless unconnected with the (? chiefly midl. and south.) 15th c. ME. leinth, laynth, where ei, ay spelling presum. represents an original diphthongal pronunciation, in contrast with the regular north. lenth(e Lenth n.]
Length, in various uses. = Lenth n., Linth n.(1) c1420 Wynt. i. 801.
Off leynth foure fwte hale is that horne Ib. 810, 815. Ib. 874.
Nynyve … Quha throwcht it passis the nerrast ways Off leynth he fyndys thre jowrnays Ib. vi. 436. Ib. vii. 548.
Large thre akyr leynth off land a1500 K. Hart 194.
A fure leynth fer 1577 Prot. Bk. J. Scott MS. 38 b.
Twa cott housis and thair ȝardis with tuentie fuitis of leinth befoir thair durris 1582 Ib. 138.
Swaiddin burdis of sic leinth and braid as thai vse to be(2) 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 75.
All tithandis heir I haif writin … at leinth c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3456.
To schaw at leynth I am nocht abyll That pietious proces lamentabyll 1574 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 434.
Being ryiplie and at leyntht aduysit 1577 Fam. Innes 132.
I understand ȝe haif hard at leynth alreddy quhow [etc.] —1584 Rec. Earld. Orkney 304.
As at mair leynth is contenit in the said dicreit
