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.
Propine, -pyne, v. Also: pre- and -pin, -pynn-; ? Propone. [Late ME and 17th c. Eng. propyne (Lydgate), -pine (c1450), L. propīnāre drink to one's health, pledge; give to drink, administer, furnish, f. the Gk. In later use, chiefly or only Sc.] To propine.In senses 2, 3 and 4 the etymological sense, explicit in sense 1, is sometimes preserved in part by references to wine, or a drinking vessel, as gifts offered.
1. tr. To offer, or give, something to drink, or a vessel containing this (to, till or unto a person, also const. dat. pron.).Also in fig. context.1533 Boece 269.
Roxiene … presenting him ane coupe of wyne … said, I propyne this coupe to thy hienes 1546–7 Perth Guildry 237 (8 March).
For wyne propinit to the … consale & decanis of craftis on Petirmes evin 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 173.
The captane said he was welcume, and wold haue propyned him drinkefig. 1562-3 Winȝet II 27/19.
Thai feir nocht to propyne the venum of hæresie til wtheris a1599 Rollock Wks. II 36.
The Father hath propined unto me a bitter cup of affliction, and I shall drink it out 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 188.
A … quietness in their mind that the devil propines out of a golden cup to them, but they drink it 1637 Gillespie Eng. Pop. Ceremonies iii ii 31.
Whiles she propineth to the world the cup of her fornications 1639 Remonstrance of Nobility 3.
The cup which hath been propined to other reformed kirks
2. To offer or present (something) (to a person, also const. dat. pron. or without compl.) as a gift or token.Freq., in p.p.Also absol. (or intr.) = to make an offering.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii 61.
Thay did till hir propyne Ane costlie coup … full of cunȝeitt gold 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 371.
My lord of Murray … propinit to the king ane coup of silver ourgilt … quhilkis my lord Dene ressavit 1526 Aberd. B. Rec. I 115.
That thar be propynit to the kingis grace … sax potionis of wyne 1575–6 Glasgow B. Rec. I 458.
For … wyne propynit to my lord prouest(2) pres., p.t. 1533 Boece 456b.
He wald to the armye propine aboundantlie all sort of viueris 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 227.
To propine and gif to the prouest … clething and spycery a1568 Bann. MS 249a/18.
To propyne him medecyne that nevir felt no sair 1596 Dalr. II 92/32.
The king propynet him the cuntries Knapden and Kintyr 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V 170.
To propyne and gif unto … Elizabeth … ten thowsand merks 1604-31 Craig ii 145.
I am … more prone to propine presentes … then to pay my debts 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 2.
Triton, his trumpet … Propin'd to himp.p. 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 257.
Propinit to hyme at diverse tymez in money 1533 Ib. VI 154.
To the Walisman … propynit … jc li. a1538 Abell 69a.
Eftir stark wyne to that end propinit to thame 1551 Treas. Acc. X 20.
Ane mulate propinit to my lord be the Bischope of Ros 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 122. 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 445.
The grite quantitie of silver werk gevin and propynit be him to sindrie personis 1596 Dalr. II 63/7.
At table in the castle … this [bull's] heid is propynet 1600 Treas. Acc. in Crim. Trials II 238.
Ane pair of garnissingis … propynit in his maiesteis name to Sir George Elphinstounes wyffe the day of hir mariage(b) 1537 St. P. Henry VIII V 126.
Had his uncle kend him desyrus of sic plesour, he [sc. a lion] had beyne prepynit suddanly to him(3) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 285.
Beseikand hir … speich to me propine 1567 G. Ball. 32.
The gloir, quhilk sall propyne That mychtie Lord vnto vs all a1605 Montg. Son. lv 10.
My trinkling teirs, the presents I propyne c1590 Fowler I 312/14.
For he by lott to me hir name In taken dois propyne … off hir loveabsol. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 35.
A table to take and receave and not an altar to offer and propine
b. To submit, or dedicate, a work of literature or the like (to another person, or to a specified cause).1572 Sat. P. xxxiii 5.
To quhome can I this lytill throuch propyne c1590 Fowler I 140/12.
Receave these verse which humblie I propyne 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (Treble) 154.
Set be maister Andro Blakhall … and propynit … to my lord of Marr at his first mariage 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. Sig. A 3.
First preached then penned and now at last propyned to the Lords inheritance 1604-31 Craig ii 7. 1622-6 Bisset I 18/6.
Thir lawis to ȝow now do I heir propyne a1660 Lithgow Poet. Remains 243.
Some few of all were safe … Of which there two, this mem'rie I propyne
c. To propose (an idea); to declare or state (something). Also intr., to make a proposition or offer. d. ? To give rise to (confused emotions).c. 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 34.
Of thair prettick to me ane point propyne c1590 Fowler II 193/13.
But because this deuise caried some morall meaning with it, it shal not be impertinent to this purpose to discover what is meant and propyned thereby 1596 Dalr. II 382/7, 8.
Sum vther proud clattereris vnleirnet, to quhome the caluinistis becan to propine, and draw thame to thair bande, and in thair counselis priuatlie propyne [L. privatim … propinare] thair hæresiesd. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 1334.
Sanct Iohnne … He estounit with gret proplexite The sepultur gart till his hert propyne
e. reflex. To state (oneself to be something).1719 Life and Death of Sharp 21.
Propining himself to be Presbyterian, he easily obtained a recommendation from Mr. Henderson, for a regents' place in the University of St. Andrews
3. To present (a person) with a material or non-material thing; to endow; to reward.To propine (a person) to (someone) with (a gift), to entrust with (a gift) for.(1) 1543 Aberd. B. Rec. I 189.
To propyne his lordschip with ane twne of wyne, … beir, … vax, … cumfeythis 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 205.
Wyne and … walx to propine the quenis grace with at Yule nixt tocum Ib. 206.
xlij li. for the goblat dubill ourgilt bocht fra him to propine the quenis grace with a1578 Pitsc. I 381/16.
He was … propynit witht the provost and communitie of the toun baitht witht spyce and wyne gold and silluer 1592–3 James VI Letter to Burghley MS.
Quhom our said subject propyning with sum fresche wynis and watter 1615 Crim. Trials III 111.
The counsall … hes propyned him with a coup of lx vnce weight(2) 1576 Orkney Oppress. 42.
Ofttymes the gudman of the hous … behuvit to propyne the … cuik and stewart with sum gift 1580 Aberd. B. Rec. II 37 (see Propin(e n. (1)). 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 120.
Als freelie has he … propyned us with this hand quhereby we may take hold on Christ 1590 Crim. Trials I ii 208.
Thow causit propyne hir with ane plaid of thine, quhilk beand full of … sorcerie [etc.] 1596 Dalr. II 74/19.
The Erl of Moray receiues the samyn propyne fra Huntlie that … he propynet Strathbolgie with, spoyles and burnis al Moray landis a1586 Kamington in Geneal. Setoun 44.
The king hes him propynd With all Parbroth 1610–11 Misc. Spald. C. V 85.
Propynit Mr. Robert Bruce … with … spycerie 1622 D. Lindesay Heavenly Chariot 12.
This shame was that boontieth, wherewith our just God, propined our first parents 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 187.
But O Lord canst thou be budded or propined with any gift for Christ? a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 231.
Spices were … used as gifts. … So the Queen of Sheba propined Solomon with them. … There is no such propine can be offered Christ 1699 Fugitive Poetry II xliii 7/7.
Propyning them With … precious things(b) 1657 Balfour Ann. II 11.
He propynnid him with a cupeborde of siluer plate(3) a1578 Pitsc. I 240/29.
Sum … quha war richlie rewardit and propynde to the king baith with gold [etc.]
b. Of presentations made formally on special occasions. To propine (the Queen) (to a New Year gift) with something, to present with by way of a gift. To propine (someone) (to a position of dignity in a University) with something, to present with as a token of induction.1528 Aberd. B. Rec. I 121.
To propin Maister Hector Boyis to his maister ack in theologie with ane townn of wyne … or thane with tuenty lib. Scottis 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II 206.
That scho [the Queen] be propinit to hir neyer [ed. nether] gift with sum cowpis of siluer 1560 Bk. Disc. 217.
That everie Universitie have ane Rectour. … He shall be propyned to the Universitie at his entre with ane new garment bearing Insignia Magistratus
4. To give (a person) a present; to reward.1558-66 Knox II 287.
The townis propyned hir liberallie 1595 Cal. Sc. P. XI 647.
If her majesty … will like to propyne and advance him honourably 1596 Dalr. II 176/19.
Arran propynes the ambassadouris honourablie, and till Ingland tha returne 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 317.
The thesaurer [is] to provyd ane suit of good armour to propin his lordship
