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.
Ourhand, n. Also: oure- and -hande. [Sc. var. of Overhand n., treating the first element as Over adv. and prep. rather than as Over a.] Mastery; chiefly, to have (the) ourhand (of (apon) someone).(1) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 198.
Thai pwnis nocht oure cruelly Quhar thai have ourhand ore maistry c1460 Consail Vys Man 342. 1456 Hay II. 152/31.
Rycht sa wald he do with thé and he had the ourhand apon thé c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 3643.
Thai[r] chapit nane quhome of thai had oure hand Ib. 4544.
And ay he hes grete fortoun and ourehand c1475 Wall. x. 611.
Gyff God grantis off ws ourhand till haiff I will bot fle(2) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 7345.
Quhen wonnyng is ourehand or victory(3) c1420 Wynt. viii. 5415 (C).
[Douglas] withe the ourhande [W. ourehand] coyme syne Away 1513 Doug. x. viii. 64.
With ourhand as victor Ib. x. 61.
