Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Lentrin, -en, Lenteryn, -en, Lentirn, Lentern, n. Also: -trine, -tryn(e, -trene, (-trem), -tron(e, -troun, -trowne, -trun(e, -tran(e, -train; -teron(e, -teran(e, -tyren; -tyrne, -te(a)rne. [Corresp. to ME. and OE. (West-sax. etc.) lenten, OE. lencten.For the difference of ending cf. ONorthumb. éfern beside West-sax. ǽfen evening, eve, ONorthumb. fæstern beside West-sax. fæsten fast, Lent (see Fasternisevin), ONorthumb. wœ́stern beside West-sax. wésten wilderness, desert (see Wastrine n.).]

1. Lent; the period of the Lenten fast.a. Applied to the religious fast as in ordinary pre-Reformation and Roman Catholic use. b. After the Reformation in Scotland applied to a fast at the same period imposed by the authorities as an economic measure (see the yearly re-enactments of Reg. Privy C.) until 1665, after which records of Lent acts or proclamations cease: cf. also the later quots. for Lent n.a. (a) 1375 Barb. x. 815 (E).
Fra the Lentryne [C. Lenteryne] … Quhill forouth the Sanct Jhonys mes a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 119.
The tyme come of the Lentrine Quhene gudmen suld to faste begyne 14.. Acts I. 49/2.
Quha sa ever eftir Lentryn nixt … be chalangit of thyft a1500 Henr. Fab. 1992 (Ch.).
‘Schir,’ said the foxe, ‘it is Lentring, ȝe se; I can nouther fische [etc.]’ c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 3/16.
I haue prechit in this Lentryne of other materis 1498 Halyb. 193.
At Ypir merkat in Lentryn 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 526/2.
For the slauchter … committit … in Lentryne last bipast a1538 Abell 10* b.
Stacyones of Lentryn ordand Paip Gregoir 1573 Inverness Rec. I. 229.
Sant Boniface day in Lentryne(b) 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. fol. 24 a.
In Lentrem the ȝer of God i^m v^c and xii ȝeris 1555 Acts II. 493/2.
Thair is diuers … euill geuin persounis … eittis flesche in Lentrene 1562-3 Winȝet I. 126/9.
Ȝerlie abstinence fourty days in the Lentrene 1570 Rec. Earld. Orkney 132.
Betuxt this and our lady da of Lentren 1580 Cath. Tr. 69/32.
In the dayes of S. Augustin, the Lentren was keiped 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 95.
Aucht yeir sen syn, … ine Lentren, thow come [etc.](c) 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 72.
For the Kingis almous in Lentroun c1500-c1512 Dunb. xl. 5 (M).
This lange Lentrune hes maid me lene 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxiv.
Passand in the time of Lentroun, throw the seis Mediterrane, ay selland thair fische 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 72.
Coft to be ane waill to the hie alter in Lentron 1577 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 389.
Such persons who will not receive the Communion but in Lentron a1578 Pitsc. II. 53/19.
Because they eat ane rostit guse in Lentroun 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 94/6.
I can not see quhat greatter superstition can be in making playes … in Mey … , then in eating fishe in Lentrone c1610 Melville Mem. 10.
[In Ireland] we had cauld cheir as hering and biskuit, for it was Lentroun a1650 Row 7.
A frier teaching in that kirk on a Sabbath day in the tyme of Lentron (as the use was then)(d) 1558-66 Knox I. 45.
For the space of a hole Lentran Ib. 46.
Yitt said thei nothing publictlie, till Lentrain was ended 1594 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 56 b.
The wrangus intromettine with ane ȝoung meir … this last Lentrane(e) 1425 Acts II. 11/2.
Begynande the Monunday of the first hail wolke of Lenteryn 1427 Ib. 16/2.
Fra the begynning of Lenteryn quhill August 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 328.
In Lenterane bipast 1503 Ib. II. 273, etc. 1558 Ib. X. 370.
For disputting upoun erronius opinionis and eiting of flesche in Lenterone(f) c1420 Wynt. viii. 2698.
At Sayntandrewys … he … held hys Lentyren in reawte 1490 Irland Mir. I. 15/25.
On the halyday ore ilk day of Lentyrne 1495 Treas. Acc. I. 258.
The first Sonday of Lentirn(g) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xl. 5 (B).
This lang Lentern makis me lene 1531 Bell. Boece II. 497.
On Care Sonday in Lentern 1581 Burne Disput. 165.
Lichtlie not the halie dayis, keip the halie tyme of Lentern Ib. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 170/1.
To gormanding fleshe on Frydayes and the halie tyme of Lentearneb. 1561–2 Reg. Privy C. I. 200.
Understanding that in the spring of the yeir, callit Lentryne, all kyndis of flesche … growis out of season … ; and als that … the prices of the flesche ar rissin to sik extreme derth [the eating of flesh is forbidden from 12th Feb. to 29th March a.c.] 1564–5 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 194.
That na flesche be eittin … in na tyme of Lentren 1575–6 Ib. IV. 47.
The greit oppressioun committit be the fleschouris … in this tyme of Lentrone, in braiking of kylling and vther greit fische 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 75.
[16 Feb., 1562–3], thair was ane proclamatioun maid anent the keping of Lentrone 1581 Coll. Aberd. & B. 354.
Licence to the said Williame … to eit flesche … in Lentrowne 1584 Acts III. 353/2.
That na maner of persone … sall … eat … flesche … in the tyme of Lenteren 1594 Ib. IV. 70/1.
In all tyme cuming the tyme of Lentren salbe certane fra the first day of Merche inclusiue to the first day of Maij exclusiue 1596 Crim. Trials I. ii. 370.
Dilatit [for] … eitting of flesch in Lentrone lastwas a1605 Birrel Diary 48.
The 5 of Februar [1599], Lentrone began, bot wes stayit, be reasone of the banquet and mariage of the Earle of Sutherland 1622 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 309.
Licence … to eit and feid wpoun fleshes in the forbiddin tyme of Lentroun c1650 Spalding II. 125.
To tak away the memorie of Pash-day, quhilk this yeir fell vpone the tent of Aprile … the Lentron contynewit to the last of Aprile [1642]

2. Attrib. or comb. with clathis (= cloths draped over images in Lent), dayis, meitt, moneth, tack, tide, tyme, vestment, and in Lentrinware. 1504–5 Treas. Acc. III. 34.
The tothir half steik bukram wes corses to the Lenterane clathis of the Kirk 1507–8 Ib. IV. 40.
For cordis to the Lenterane clathis 1513 Edinb. Hammermen 81.
Half ane eln of quhit fusteane to be perabolis to the lentrin vestment c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 252 a/1.
Thir lenterne dayis ar luvely lang And I will mvrne ne mair 1562-3 Winȝet I. 127/4.
Quhy obeyt ȝe nocht ȝour selfis the last Lentrene tyme, ȝour magistratis commandand, at ȝour deuise and counsel, abstinence fra flesche certane days? 1558-66 Knox I. 46.
All his hole sermones hie had tawght befoir the haill Lentrantyde preceding 1574 Hist. Kinloss A. 95.
For thair fyir, buttir, candill, spice, and lentrun meitt xij li. a1585 Polwart Flyt. 202 (H).
In Lent, In Lentron moneth & the long sommer 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Assisa.
He suld haue … an thousand herring of ilk tak that halds, viz. of the Lambmes tak, of the winter tack and of the Lentrone tack c1650 Spalding II. 125.
[1642] A mater neuer befoir hard of in this land, that Pashe day sould be includit within Lentrontyme