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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.

Carn(e, Cairn, n. Also: karne, caryn, carine; cairne, kairn(e. [Gael. carn.] A pile or small pyramid of loose stones, esp. one serving as a boundary- or land-mark, or marking a grave.Evidenced earlier in designations of persons, as David of the Carnes (1362 Rotuli Sc. I. 865/2), Johannes del Carnys (1363 Ib. 876/2).(a) 1446 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 245.
Syn evyn furth til a rod behynd the Carnehill, and sua furth to the caryn of Mar 1469 Coll. Aberd. & Banff 349.
Inter le carne de Kilmorthan … et nigrum vadum, … et a le carne de Kilmorthan [etc.] 1492 Reg. Great S. 486/1.
Ad quandam congeriem lapidum, vulgariter dictam le Stewynnis Carne super montem ex parte australi torrentis de Boyne 1499 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 429.
Ascendand be stracht line … to the gret Lammyrhillok … and west fra thame to the carne quhar we satt 1507 Reg. Great S. 645/2.
Congeries [lapidum], vulgariter le carne de Crawfurdstoun 1529 Red Bk. Grandtully I. 68.
In the fensit court … haldin be me at the karne of Pettequharne 1535 Stewart 3987.
Syne sumptuslie vpone his graif they set Ane carne of stonis togither cumulat Ib. 53180.
It hapnit so … tha mett Quhair lang befoir ane carne of stane wes sett 1540 5th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 609/1.
Fra … the heid of hill … to ane carne, … and fra that descendand carne be carne to the Halymanis Seit, and fra that linealie carne be carne … to the feild stane 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 290.
Gif ony biggar haldis ane carne of stanes one the streit … attour ane yeir … the samin to be escheit 1557 Reg. Cupar A. II. 129.
The croft of land callit the well medow … as the said croft is devidit be carnis of stanis 1563 Echt-Forbes Chart. 98.
Ascendand the mwir … to ane ruif and karne … and frathyne discendand to ane wolhed quharat thair is ane karne set a1605 Montg. Flyt. 421 (T).
By craft coniurand feyndis by force Furth of ane carne, ysyde ane croce 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 146.
Meting of land, be biging and putting vpe wpone the land of Cragtoun … of carines of stane Ib. 147.
Biging the saidis carnes 1615 Shetl. Sheriff Ct. MS. 10.
His thifteous steilling of … threttie tua clewis of ȝairne … and hyding thame in a carne of stanes(b) 1518 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 178.
That na muk, fuilȝie, cairnis of staynis nor myddingis be laid neir the … wallis 1533 Boece ii. viii. 72 b.
The sepulturis of valeȝeand men … suld … be had in reuerence, adionyng thareto hepis and cairnys of stanys 1547 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 127.
Ony cairnis of staynis … or vther red on the hie gaitt 1595 Bamff Chart. 143.
Fra the said cairne passand south west to ane uther cairne of stanes callit the Reid Corse 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. i. 1.
They make … the kirk a caluarie or cairne of dead mens skulles 1627 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 18.
The saids commissioneres went to the said hill … , and causit gadder and erect ane great cairne of stanes(c) 1552 Prot. Bk. R. Lumsdane 20.
Discendand and haldand the watter passaig … quhill it cum to ane furd and ane kayrne of stanis 1563 Echt-Forbes Chart. 98.
Fra thyn derect south … to ane … kairne of stanis set 1596 Dalr. I. 135/13.
In sindrie places he commandet to be erected gret kairnis of stanes, four square vndirneth, and scharpe abone 1613 Frasers of Philorth 274.
To ane earthfast stane at the firing syde, quhair thair is ane gryt kairne biggit 1650 Elgin Rec. II. 362.
Descending from the saids yards by potts and kairnes to head of a bank northward