A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1491-1631
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Orknay, -ey. Also: Orkynnay; Orna. [The name of the group of islands, the Orkneys.]
1. In Boece in pl.: The men of Orkney. 1533 Boece iii. xii. 109 b.
At the strange sicht of Romanis the Orknayis war affrayit 1533 Ib. ii. xiv. 89.
2. The designation of one of the Scottish heralds. 1581 Acts III. 288/2.
Adame Macculloch sumtyme Merchemont herauld now Orknay herauld
3. Attrib. with buge, skin, butter, beir, payment: Of or from Orkney, as found or practised in Orkney.(1) 1491 Treasurer's Accounts I. 190.
For Orkynnay skynnis to lyne it 1511 Ib. IV. 245.
For ane lyning to it of quhet Orknay skynnis — 1492 Ib. I. 203.
For Orkynnay bwge to lyne it with 1511 Ib. IV. 255.(2) 1525 Treasurer's Accounts V. 258.
For Orkynnay buttir … for the artalȝere 1527 Ib. 322. 1531–2 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I. 102.
For Orknay butter and takkettis to the saidis polysouris 1537–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 252. 1548 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 198.
For thre stane of Orknay buttar to talloun the Frenche monitioun extreis and quelis xxx s. 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 25th Apr.
The sowme off vij s. vj d. for Orkney butter 1625 Brechin Testaments IV. 184.
Thrie kimkins orna butter(3) 1631 Edinburgh Testaments LV. 77.
In his kill ane chalder Orknay beir(4) 1503 Orkney Rentals i. 31.
& gave in male xx s. Orknay payment of the best gild price yeirlie
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"Orknay prop. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/orknay>
