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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vent, Vend, v.¹ Also: went. P.p. also wenttit, ventet, vend. [e.m.E. vent (1542-3), vend (1622), F. vendre, L. vendere or f. as Vent n.¹] tr. a. To present (a commodity) for sale, to sell. b. specif. To sell (wine, etc.); to open (a cask, etc. of wine, etc.) for the purpose of selling it. Some examples may belong in Vent v.² 1 a with which there is some confusion.a. pres. 1478–9 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 36.
It is thocht expedient that all persouns haif licence and leif to cum to the towne with victualls to serue the kingis lieges and vent the samyn on Mononday Wedinsday and Fryday 1509 Soc. Ant. LXXXIX 453.
The lauboraris and wirkaris of the samyn craft … the quhilkis … haldis comone markat … within the toune of Leith, selland and ventand thare stuf 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III 24.
To vent and sell thair pursis gluffis panttis and otheris maid wark 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 12.
That nane of the saids … caikbaxteris tak upoun thame to haif ony quheitt breid … to vent, top or sell … under payne of xl s. and escheitt of the said breid 1642 Banff Ann. I 87.
[Complaint against Alexander Craig, burgess of Banff, for keeping] ane oppin buith and selling of waires within the toun of Fordyce being ane wnfrie pairt … that he should not … keip any oppin buith within the said toun … nor vent nor sell na kynd of wair … under the payne of ane hundreth poundis 1656 St. A. Baxter Bks. 124.
William Kenlowie … being accusit and convict of selling of bread too cheap … It is statute … that the said William, nor na wthar brothar of the said traid … tak apone hand to sell or vent ony bread bot conforme to the accustumat raitis(b) 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 74.
Oftentimes they vend and transport much thereof [sc. corn] to other countreys 1698 Elgin Rec. II 322.
Reported that the gardners in the town use frequently to vend and sell kale, fruits and roots upon the Sabbath dayp.t. 1677 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 131.
His victuall rent of Dumbreck which he ventit and sold in Aberdein in ane opin seller ilk day als weell upon mercat dayes as other dayes wheras the burgors of the brughe hes onlie that priviledge 1680 Glasgow Chart. II 208.
The persons above named … have … imported within this realme … merchandize, to the value of twelve thowsand poundis Scottis, yeirly, and vented and sold the samen within this kingdome to the prejudice of the royall burrowes and specially to the compterisp.p. 1582 St. A. Baxter Bks. 30.
All braid be vend on ane pris accordinglie vnder the pane of x schillingis 1669 R. Moray Lett. 470.
Some 2000 wey be vented here of it [sc. salt] c1680 Mackenzie Affairs 228.
There being no price for victual, cows, or salmon, which could not be vented in time of war 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 72.
Their bestial are vented in England, their sheep, for the most part, at Edinburghb. pres. 1547 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 127.
That nane suld vent wyne within this burgh except gild brethir 1556 Edinb. B. Rec. II 259.
That … na maner of personis … vs tavern or … went ony wynis in greit or small … except [etc.] 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II 167.
That na tavernar sell nor went any wyne nor aill … in tyme of sermone 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 55.
To discharge all the inhabitants of the said toun … to make malt, brew or vent aill, bot suche as ar warranted be thame for that effect 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 612.
No woman sould vent or rin wyne or aill in the tavernis of Edinburgh 1675 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 6 Dec.
That they shall not have the libertie to vent retaill or tap wynes and brandie 1692 Misc. B. Rec. 57.
The magistrats have given in a particular accompt to the saids visitors of their trade both forraigne and inland, as also what French wine, seck, brandie, and malt they vent and consume yearlyp.t. 1624 Peebles Gleanings 75.
Elspeth Threipland … grantit scho ventit and ran four laidis wyne 1636 Elgin Rec. I 255.
Issobell Hardie … declairit that sche ventit and brocht in to hir cellar … tua tun of Frensch wyn and ane pype of Spaynis wynep.p. 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 110.
xij d. of euery tvn of wyne that salhappin tobe ventit … be collectit 1564 Edinb. B. Rec. III 180.
Wenttit 1613 Reg. Privy C. IX 552.
Ane dewtie and impost of four pundis for everie tun of wyne quhilk hes bene ventit, run, and sauld in smallis within ony pairt, burgh or town 1613 Conv. Burghs II 433.
Ilk tun of wyne coppit and ventit in smalls 1621 Acts IV 669/2.
Off the custome … of the soume of four pundis … of ilk tune of wyne to be toppit ventit and sauld in smallis within the said burgh 1668 Culross I 345.
Ventet 1675 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 18 Aug.
Of quhat quantatie of brandie they have brought in vented and topped from the first of January 1674 to the first of May last(b) 1695 Aberd. Chart. 277.
The shilling Scots on every pint of brandy wine imported or of strong waters or aquavitae imported browen or vended within the said burgh