Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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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.

Den, n.² Also: denne. [ME. denne, den(n, OE. denn.] The lair or hole of a wild beast. Also fig. c1420 Wynt. v. 2971.
Ay still in till hys den lay he [sc. the dragon] Ib. viii. 6656.
Thocht God wald sleip in tyll hys den a1500 Henr. Fab. 549.
God sen That I and thow wer fairlie in my den Ib. 1696.
All wyld bestis … Drawis for dreid vnto thair dennis deip c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxii. 67.
The wowf hes drest him to his den 1513 Doug. iii. ix. 107.
In desert hyrnys and seyr wild bestis den 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 151.
Prynce in that dolorus den of wo and pane 1531 Bell. Boece II. 376.
Heirand that Wallace lurkit in dennis, and lay in wait 1536 Lynd. Answ. Flyting 17.
I man do as dog dois in his den c1552 Id. Mon. 2427.
Of that dangerus den he wes releuit 1558 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 146.
Under the umbre of the dyik thay make thare dennis and cavernis 1567 Sat. P. vii. 69.
The royall hous … Was maid ane bordell and ane theifis den c1590 J. Stewart 17/78.
As tender faune vithin ane darnit den 1596 Dalr. I. 21/26.
Out of thair lairis and dennis he dryues the foxes