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.
Lignie, Linȝé, a. Also: ligny(e, lygny, lynȝé, and Lenȝé. [North. OF. (Picard) ligne, var. of OF. and AN. linge fine, thin, slender (textiles, persons, their limbs, etc.), ultim. f. L. līneus of flax, linen-. In the later Sc. dial. as leengyie (Jam.) thin (cloth): and cf. also mod. north. Eng. dial. lingey (Ray, 1674–91), lingy, linjy lithe, supple (f. OF. linge).]
Fine, thin, slender.(a) 1456 Hay I. 283/28.
The ayer, the quhilk … is in it self lignie and sutile and penetratyf Ib. II. 118/19.
Quhen his body is dry and sclender and lignye Ib. /23. Ib. 119/22, 126/30. Ib. 137/21.
Bef flesche … lignye of haire and thin of hyde Ib. /27.
Fischis … ar of ligny skyn, nocht slymy(b) 1513 Doug. vi. xvi. 29.
Rich lynȝe wobbis natly wefis sche Ib. viii. i. 33 (Sm.).
A linȝe wattry garmond dyd hym vaill
