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.
Quotation dates: 1553-1700+
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Stance, n. Also: stans(e, staunce. [e.m.E. (rare) stance (1532), stanse (1596), MF estance (15th c. in Wartburg), stanse (16th c. in Larousse), cf. also It. stanza, f. L. stāre to stand. Also in the later dial.]
1. A barrier.1553 Blackfriars Perth 233.
And thair stud ane barred yett nocht long bypast … quhair now yeirlie the said priour … biggis ane stance to keep and hald out bestiall fra the said herbar 1571–2 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 59.
Inputtin of ane garroun to the bak of ane of the north windois of the kirk and hewin it within the stance of irne
2. The area on which something stands, the site of a building, etc.; also specif. b. Of a booth or market stall. c. Of a stopping place for a stage-coach. d. fig. Position, place; attitude. e. At (put to) a stance, at (bring to) a standstill.1593 Ayr Chart. 121.
Thair corne myln of Alloway myln land myln houssis stans laid [etc.] 1614 Ayr Chart. 147.
The rowme, place, and stance of the Blak Freir Kirk within the burgh of Air 1627 Edinb. B. Rec. VII 28.
The stance and saitt of the said hospitall 1640 Dumbarton B. Rec. 60.
Dailles … for laying of the platformis for the ordinance … and stances maid in the reiver of Clyd at Newark 1640 Lithgow Poet. Remains 200.
Jerusalem, Jerusalems above, A glorious staunce, where sits the King of love 1650 Falkirk Par. Rec. I 164.
There suld be ane new kirk erected … the stance quharof suld be upon the brayes betwixt Carsibank and Millhall 1651 Moray Synod 110.
The committee … did bound and limitat the stance of the church and churchyard upon the S.E. pairt of the said peice ground 1662 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 202.
The magistrats to delyuer to Robert Burnet … the draucht and stans of this burghe … drawin wpon paper with pen and ink 1664 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 208.
To cause make wp the mercat croce of the said burgh in the west end of the Castlegait with hewin and cut stones according to the stanse and forme of the mercat croce … of Edinburgh c1680 Coll. Aberd. & B. 417.
The English … coming to see the stance and site of this place [etc.]b. 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I 60.
[Unfree men] keep oppin buythis and stances 1658 Lanark B. Rec. 161.
Tua baillies … to rectifie and order the haill stance of the mercatis … in tyme cuming 1659 Lanark B. Rec. 173.
The lamb and veill to pay ij d. … for thair stance in the flesch mercatc. 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 300.
The councill doe herby allow hir [sc. the coach] convenient roome for hir stance at Leith Weynd footd. 1638 Henderson Serm. 513.
The second station is in respect of thy particular calling … and when thou art placed in that stance thou should keep it 1640 Baillie Canterb. Self-convict. 108.
Yet now in our book it must change the place and be brought to its owne old stance 1653 Binning Wks. 318, 319.
Let us know where our stance is, … many Christians … think, if they keep that stance, they are well a1689 Cleland 35.
Moe various actings, modes and stances Than's read in Poems and Romancese. a1689 Cleland 11.
But here my fancie's at a stance c1679 Kirkton Hist. 388 n.
It seems your French trade sir is at a stance 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace 269.
Which tydings put King Edward to a stance And call'd him home
3. ?1609 Argyll Rentals 9 Oct.
Item ane tua ȝeir stans xx mks.
4. A room, chamber; cell. b. A compartment in an escutcheon. Only in Lithgow.1632 Lithgow Trav. x 462.
The corregidor came out of his adioyning stance 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 476.
The young English preist entered my melancholly staunce 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 502.
The earles of Cathnes … First then their armes … The lyon red and rag'd two times divided … The third ioynd staunce denotes to me a galley [etc.]
