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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thorn(e, n. Also: thoirn, thyrn. [ME and e.m.E. þorn (c1200), thorn (Cursor M.), OE, ON þorn.]

1. A thorn tree or bush, a hedge of thorn bushes, once, specif. a hawthorn. Also fig. or in fig. context.In sing. use freq. with reference to a particular tree. Also in place-names. 1133–47 Liber Calchou 196.
[In escambio decem libratarum terre in] Hardingesthorn 1159 Liber Calchou iv.
[In uiam qua itur ad] Neithanesthyrn c1230 Reg. Paisley 104.
Thornton 1214–49 Liber Melros I 198.
Thorneburht c1250 Liber Calchou 91.
Thornedich 1403 Reg. Paisley 79.
Thornle 1446 Coll. Aberd. & B. 485.
Johannis de Thornton c1700 Dumfries Doc.
19 ells litted Thornhill stuff at 5 s. per ell inde c1515 Asl. MS I 215/10.
Allane Stewart Lord Dernlie was slane at Polmais thorne be Sir Thomas Boyd 1608 Crim. Trials II 543.
[They] come with all thair speid to Seaton-thornesing. ?1438 Alex. ii 2989.
Alexander vnder ane thorne thay fand Sittand at the ches c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 15.
To the hege so hard I inthrang That I was heildit with hawthorne … Throw pykis of the plet thorne I presandlie luikit 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 20.
This inquest findis that the dik befor the thorne and the lityll schell and sum part of the smydy is in the common 1519 Prot. Bk. Gavin Ros 62.
[A certain pretended court held on the lands of Neder Polquharne, near a tree called the] gast thorne 1562 Dumfries B. Ct. 175.
The xl part of ane quartter land of rig liand betuix the Kingholm thorne & the Kelton vell 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Eclogues ii 9.
Spineta, rubeta (busses), spina proprie (the thorne) 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 52.
He apperit to hir, as sche was gangand betuix hir awin hous and the thorne of Damwstarnok 1576 Crim. Trials I ii 58.
Sche saw the Laird of Auchinskeyth at a thorne beyond Monkcastell a1582 Sir Colling 57.
Scho sayis [vpone] ȝone allreche [hill] [Thair]on standis ane thorn 1582 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 148.
For ane thorne with xxxiij ȝoung treis to the buriall ȝaird & saitting the samyn a1605 Montg. Flyt. 418 (T).
And, nyne tymes, wirdersones, about the thorne raid 1626 Justiciary Cases I 56.
Charget be Jon Broun, messinger, at the thorne of the Doun of Menteith 1673 Edinb. B. Rec. X 143.
The persones appoynted to viset the high way betuixt the thorne at Leith linx and the Abay hill 1658–1700 Greyfriars Interments 508.
Lady Gradon Ker; owld thorncoll. c1500 Fyve Bestes 52.
Take the way of buskis, thorne & brere 1535 Stewart 49183.
He … wnder ane hedge of thorne With litill sleip tuke rest 1552–3 Edinb. Hammermen 192.
Item for the hegyn of the thorne in the Magdalene ȝardpl. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 2435.
Cavis seire, With thornes all our-growin a1500 Henr. Orph. 289.
Syne our a mure wyth thornis thik and scharp, Weping allone, a wilsum way he went 1501 Treas. Acc. II 81.
Giffin for thornis to the heggis of the new garding 1550 Stirling Ant. III 247.
To set thornis with uthir necessar plantatioun for the weschers and drying of the clathis a1605 Montg. Flyt. 1 (H).
Polwart, ȝe peip like a mouse amongest thornes 1615–16 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 566.
vij hundir … thornis to be the allay hedge in the college 1651 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 645.
The churche of Scotland is become lyker to a feild of thorns and briars then the wyneyaird of the Holy One of Israelfig. a1400 Leg. S. xiii Prol. 94.
Mary that vas rose of thorne 1456 Hay II 28/34.
Sa is the suerd of knychthede ordanyt to kutt away and destroye the wickkit unworthy wedis and ronnis of thornis of evill men a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 382/14.
Welthe warldlie gloir and riche array Ar all bot thoirnis in thi way

b. The branches of thorn trees or thorn bushes cut for use as fuel, defensive fencing, etc. Also with reference to the crown of thorns.coll. a1400 Leg. S. vii 146.
He that Jhesus … for dyspyt crownyt with thorne a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1139 (Asl.).
The crovne of thorne, the croce, eike Longius lancepl. c1420 Wynt. iii 949.
[He] gert … kendyll fyre rycht fast about Off thornys … gret a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 262.
Beirand ane bunche of thornis on his bak 1544–5 Ayr B. Acc. 97.
For thornis and stakis to the oppin partis of the toun in the tyme of the pest, 10 s. 1602 R. Brown Paisley I 188.
That all persons haifand waist lands adjacent to the ports of this burgh big up the foir wallis thereof sufficientlie and braid the same with thornis that nane clyme over

c. proverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 501.
It is dear bought honey that is lickt off a thorne a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1567.
That is trew thorn, wil ye by a tuig

d. attrib. and comb.For thorne-rone, see Ron(e n.¹ 1602 Reg. Great S. 467/2.
Prata et croftas infra exterius precinctum vulgo thornedykis et hedgis ejusdem 1580 Inverness Rec. I 278.
The out rywing of the said thorne bus c1700 Haigs of Bemersyde 308.
I … builded the barne at the thorne-tree

2. A spine, a prickle. Also in fig. context. 1494 Loutfut MS 19a.
The herichon … is a litill best armyt of al partis with spines thornys or pickandis 1604-31 Craig i 31.
None tends poor Philomel … Yea if she sleip the poynted thorne out-through her breist-bone thrils 1685 Edinb. City Archives Letters II (40).
His wyffe … wrote a letter … which jumbled David so that the thorne is in his owne foote

3. A twig of hawthorn or the like, used as a plug or bung. Also in the later dial. (cf. SND, s.v. Thorn n.¹ 2). 1643 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 536.
Tuo maskruthers with ane thorne 1668 Rothesay B. Rec. 150.
1 taptrie and thorne