A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Whiten, v. [ME and e.m.E. whiten (a1300), whitten (c1440), ON hvítna.] tr.To whiten. —1686 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 186.
There has been severall persones be the counsells tollerance that has gotten libertie to bury their friends in the Grayfriars of late and … they have whitened and blackened a great part of the walls of the said kirk with mourning tears wherby these persones may pretend that the ground opposite therto pertains to them … therfor the councell appoynts all these paintings upon the kirk walls to be expunged
