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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Princehed(e, -heid(e, n. Also: prynce-, and prinsheid, prinched, pryncehad. [ME princehed(e (Wyclif), e.m.E. (north.) prynsehede (once, Cath. Angl.), ME (Wyclif) and e.m.E. princehod(e, -hood, etc.]

1. Princely power or dignity; the state, condition or quality of being a prince. c1420 Wynt. vii 3464.
This Kyng Edward lyklyly Hys pryncehad [C. prynceheide, W. prinsheid] chawngyd in tyrandry 1456 Hay II 70/6.
And the mare that knychthede be assemblyt with hie princehede or hye lordschip, [etc.] Ib. 146/19.
Or ellis he declynis fra the proprietee of princehede c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 4909.
He … sperit of his fortoun and princehede [: made] c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Cor. xv 24.
Princehede [W. princehede, P. princehod] Id. Jude 6.
Princehede [L. principatum, W. princehed]

b. With possessive pron. as a complimentary mode of address or reference. (Cf. Lordschip n. 7). 1456 Hay I 4/2.
That the prophecyes … be verifyit in ȝour maist noble and worthy princehede 1535 Stewart 21.
And I have brocht … Ane nobill buke, his princeheid for to pleis

2. A state ruled over by a ‘prince’ or ruler ranking below a king but above a duke, a principality. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 5548.
And gevin to sum kinrikis and sum princehedis c1515 Asl. MS I 307/5.
With mony vtheris rialest kingdomes, princehedis and ducheriis in Grece Ib. 307/24.
The princehedis of Pymond & Oranche, … the marquesy … of Mantua [etc.] Ib. 308/13.
With monyest princhedis and ducheris & lordschippis

3. plur. Principalities, one of the orders of angels. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Collossians i 16.
For in him althingis ar made … outhir thronis, outhir dominatiounns, outhir princehedis [P. princehodes, W. principatis], outhir poweris