A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Sinny,) Synny, n. Also: sinni, cinnie, sinnay, siny, -ie, senna, sunny, sony. [e.m.E. sena (1543), senna (1693), mod. L. sena (1480 in Latham); cf. late ME sene (c1400), OF séné (13th c. in Larousse), med. L. sene, f. the Arabic.] Senna; the dried leaflets of the senna plant, used for medicinal purposes. Also attrib. with -levis. —1585 Edinb. Test. 253b.
xvij pund of synny price of the pund xxj s. iiij d. 1596 Elgin Rec. II 45.
Scho gaiff spurge and pouder cinnie to William Youngis barne 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 137.
I took a potion of physick of the infusion of two drams of senna —attrib. 1598 Edinb. Test. XXXI 350b.
Of sinnay leivis thrie pund wecht at xxx s. the pund 1615 Edinb. Test. XLVIII 271b.
Ane pund weycht of sinni leifis price xl s. 1631 Edinb. Test. LV 35.
Sinie 1632 Edinb. Test. LV 279b.
Siny 1645 Edinb. Test. LXI 117b.
Certane sony leaves … and sony ginger 1647 Edinb. Test. LXIII 215.
Sunny
