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.
Quhit(e)-harnes, n. Also: white- and -harnis(h. [e.m.E. white harnesse (1530).] ‘Used by early writers to denote plate armour as opposed to mail’ Sc. Hist. Rev. XXVII, 135 n. Cf. Quhite adj. 1 d.(1) 1491 Acts II 226/2.
That euere man be furnist … with quhite harnes, brekanetynis, or gude jakkis, with splentis & gluffis 1513–14 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 10.
And to provid for quhit harnes, jakkis, splentis [etc.] 1514 Irvine Mun. I 35.
Bodin for were … in quhite harnes [etc.] … and al uther maner of abilȝeamentis … for were 1540 Acts II 362/2.
That euery nobill man … and euery grett landit man … be anarmit in quhite harnes lycht or hevy … and that all vtheris of lawer rent and degre … haif jak of plait [etc.] Ib. 363/1. 1563 Acts II 539/2.
That na maner of persoun … attempt to … rais ony bandis of men of weir … with culueringis [etc.] … steilbonetis quhite harnes [white harnish; 1674 Justiciary Ct. Rec. II 225] or vther munitioun bellicall 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 219.(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II 458.
Thay brocht cccc curacis of quhit harnis
