A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1579
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Abovin, Abufin, adv. and prep. Also: abovyn, abowyn(e; abuffin, abufyn. [ME. aboven, abuven, OE. abú fan, with unusual Northern retention of the final n: cf. Abone, Aboun, and Abufe.]
A. adv. Above; in an upper or superior position. 1375 Barb. xvii. 367.
Thai … That war abovin [E. abowyne] apon the wall 1375 Ib. 653.
Thai abovin [E. aboun] defendit ay 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
The forsayde v chapellys sal be thekyt abovyn with stane c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace i. 178.
Bot God abowyn has send ws sum ramedefig. 1375 Barb. v. 599; 1375 Ib. xiv. 204.
Gif thou seis me abovin [E. abowyn] be, Thou sall haf vapnys in gret plente
b. Abovin-, abufin-writtin (= Abone-writtin), etc. 1391 Lennox Mun. 44.
The … thingis abufin writin leleli to kepe 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 7.
Thir last twa sowmis abowyn writtyn 1474 Rec. Aboyne 18.
The … sowmys abufyn expremit 1507–8 Rec. Earld. Orkney 80.
Day and place abowin writin c1550-79 Chron. Fortirgall 121.
The bra of Rannoch was hareyd be them abowin wryttyn
B. prep. Above, over. 1375 Barb. x. 31; etc.
Johne of Lorne gerte his menȝhe Enbuschit be abovyn [E. abowyn] the way 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
The voute abovyn Sant Stevinys auter c 1420 Liber Calchou 450.
The hede vayn … that lies nest abowin the hart wayn c1420 Wynt. ii. 2593 (W).
Abuffin ilk personis poll There name [was] writtin 1454 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. iii. 10.
Als wele vndir erde as abouyn 1488 Dunferm. B. Rec. 2.
The qwhilk loft is abowyn the almus hows
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"Abovin adv., prep.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/abovin>
