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: 1456-1591
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Almain, Almane, n.2 and a. Also: Almayne, Almine, Amane; Alman; Allemain, -man, Alamand. [ME. Almain (c 1205), Almayn, OF. Aleman.]
1. n. A German. 1456 Hay I. 99/7.
Gif ane Allemain fyndis a Fraunchman berand the samyn armes that he beris in felde 1456 Ib. 138/22.
As we wald set the cas, that the King of Fraunce has were with the Almaynis 1496 Treasurer's Accounts I. 305.
To Lowis Almane, v li. xvij s. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 146/32.
In ald tymis in germanye, ane alman vas ay repute for ane villain quhil on to the tyme that he vas mareit 1549 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 327.
Certane geir tane fra tua Amanis cuming furth of Inglande to get service 1570 Leslie 123.
The Duik of Albany … desyrit onely that he mycht haif … tenne thousand Almanes to be landit in Scotland a1578 Pitsc. II. 215/23.
The admirall eschaipit and had ane reskew schortlie of the almanis
2. adj. German. 1506–7 Treasurer's Accounts III. 251.
For iij elne blak gray, to be ane patroun for ane Almane ganging cote 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxiii.
Sanct Ebbis Heid, fornence the Almane seis 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 66/24.
Thai dancit al cristyn mennis dance, … the alman haye, the bace of voragon 1566 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 103.
iiij elnis of blak to be ane almane cloik 1582 Ib. 110 b.
To the alamand commissioner that come furth of Almanie c1590 Fowler I. 397/14.
Either in the Almane tongue or in the flemish
b. Used to denote a kind of bombasine. 1579 Edinburgh Testaments VII. 116.
Nyne elnis alleman tuelit bumbasie 1584 Ib. XIV. 132.
vj elnis ane half of almannis bumbacie 1591 Ib. XXIII. 43 b.
Tua elnes of almanes bumbasie
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"Almain n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/almain>
