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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Defens, Defence, n. Also: defense, deffens, -ence, diffens, -ence. [ME. defens (a 1300), defence, deff-, diffence, etc., OF. defens and defense.]

1. Defence (of a person, place, etc.). Also in phr. hous (etc.) of defens.(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 637.
Thai thame purwayd off diffens, And mad agayne thame resistens Ib. vi. 2023.
In a hows mad off defens 1456 Hay I. 192/3.
It wald be callit before-thocht felouny, and nocht defens 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 278.
Quha euer contrary, I mon stand at defens Ib. iii. ii. 127.
I me enfors … to byg a wallit cite of defens(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv. 234.
I thole but defence Of hyme this ald gret wyolence c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 805.
Gregeois … in gret Illioune … Russhed, quhar they defence fand nan ?1438 Alex. i. 23.
The King thair grit defence hes sene 1456 Hay I. 153/6.
Suppos a baroun mak rycht were of defence agayne ane othir baroun a1500 Henr. Fab. 411.
Ane thornie schaw thair wes of greit defence c1515 Asl. MS. I. 186/11.
The Troianis … quhen thai war segit baid at thair defence 1510 Peebles B. Rec. 42.
Vnder oure … protectioun, defence, supple, and saufgard 1535 Stewart 38835.
Thair tha stude rycht lang at thair defence 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5685.
Him self to help he culd get na defence 1562-3 Winȝet I. 37/13.
Quhat strenth had his armour of defence thair, lat cunning men iuge 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 33.
Quhat defence can be … agains thame that hes murtherit ane king?

b. Freq. in the phr. to mak defens.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 96.
Thai that na defens mycht mak, Full pitwisly couth rair and cry Ib. xvii. 455.
It wes nocht eyth till ta The toune, with sic defens wes maid a1400 Leg. S. ii. 168.
Sla na man fore-owt sake, That fore the realme defens suld mak c1420 Wynt. vi. 1575.
Ethelred mad gret deffens And to thare felny resystens 1456 Hay I. 192/11.
Suppos … I, makand defens for him, slew the religious man c1475 Wall. vii. 994.
The Sotheron men maid gret defens that tid, With artailȝe 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 19.
Troianys agane, schaping defens to mak, Rent turettis doune(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 874.
Set yhe wyll … Ay for yhoure statis ma defence ?1438 Alex. ii. 1348.
Sa fare defence thare couth thay mak That the great hoste was put abak 1456 Hay I. 51/24.
He had nocht fundyn na man to mak him diffence a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 504.
Heir sall I mak residence, Bot he with force mak defence c1515 Asl. MS. I. 191/20.
We and the Pictis maide sa forsy defence aganis baith Romanis and Brettonnis a1570-86 Maitl. F. xcviii. 6.
This realme is liklie to forfair Throw ȝour grit necgligence That makis na defence

c. With possessive pronouns or of, as for thair defens, for or in defens of.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 1583.
Thare-on held he rycht stoutly In till his helpe and his defens 1456 Hay I. 85/23.
He that is hardy for defens of gude rycht Ib. 200/34.
The lawe of defens of a mannis person 1471 Acts II. 100/1.
To gar certane cartis of weir be maide … for the defens of the realme 1513 Doug. ii. v. 54.
In defens of hys natyve cuntre 1549 Compl. 2/7.
In the contenual auansing of the deffens of oure contre(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 1769.
That … thai suld rys in thare defence, Gyff ony maid thame resistence 1456 Hay I. 123/32.
For defence of the kingis persoun, and his landis and placis Ib. 196/12.
Suppos in his defence he had slayn him c1450-2 Howlat 486.
Thus in defence of the faith he fure to the fecht c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 38.
[He] wald … Bot dreyd of danger, de in thi defence 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 412/2.
To correk and punis all thame that … ris nocht for defence of the cuntre 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 122.
To tak trew afald pairt for the defence of the guid towne a1578 Pitsc. II. 299/2.
For resisting of strangeris and for the defence of Godis vord

2. A means of defence; a protection or protector. a1400 Leg. S. xviii. 788.
Thu art bewte of angelis al, … To mysterful souerane defens Ib. xxxii. 51.
Thar is na defence sa gude As is the takine of the rude c1420 Wynt. iv. 1213.
To gyff hym wyt … how to succoure that cyte Mast redy helpe war, or defens Ib. viii. 3593.
Thay … schupe thame stowtly … To mak defens and brettys 1456 Hay I. 64/5.
Julius Cesar brocht with him nouthir wapyn na othir defence c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 14.
In euery realme oure scheild and our defence 1513 Doug. ii. v. 60.
O Troiane hope, maist ferm defens in fyght 1533 Bell. Livy II. 173/3.
Eftir this victorie the dictatour … made mo strang basteilȝeis and defensis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1679.
Quhov we maye make one strang defence Aganis sick walteris violence c1590 J. Stewart 13/56.
Quhair Dvrandal discends, Vas no defens

3. Defence against an accusation, claim, etc., or in support of an opinion. 1456 Hay I. 132/14.
Trewly I, knawand his rycht, aw nocht to mak defens Ib. 191/28.
Till appele to ane hyar juge for his defens, for rychtwis defens is ay privilegit a1500 Henr. III. 140/14.
The pairteis sowld be cald For thair excuse to mak lawfull defence 1478 Acta Aud. 59/2.
The said James … nocht being lauchfully warnit to his defens 1491 Dunferm. B. Rec. 37.
The said John … fand a borcht that he was cum into his caus for nul defens 1507 Prestwick B. Rec. 40.
The said Allane denyt, bot allegyt for his defens that it was his awin speid at he lent hym 1555 Acts & Decr. MS. XII. 364.
The defensis gevin in … for saidis clientis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 69/15.
Corroboring our iugement with sufficient defensis 1622-6 Bisset I. 306/24.
[That] the said tenement … aucht to be recognosced, and appropriate in his handis for null defence

4. Preservation against decay. a1400 Leg. S. iii. 798.
Scho … it enbawmyt but abad With … bawme of rettinge [sic] and defens

5. Prohibition. a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 584.
He … in a buk of that science Red, agane his mastere defence