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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.

Dern(e, Darn(e, v. [ME. (rare) dernen, OE. dernan, dyrnan.]

1. refl. To hide or conceal (oneself). 1580 Reg. Privy C. III. 275.
[They] come under silence of nycht … and dernit thameselffis quietlie in the laich houssis 1604 Crim. Trials II. 428.
The said George darnit him selff and his servandis in ane outhous … quhair he remanit quyet 1613 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 33.
The Marques … desyrit thame to derne thameselfis in a wode. neirby 1618 Crim. Trials III. ii. 441.
James Stewart … come bodin in feir of weir … of purpois to haif darnet himself in the. brome 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 339.
They with their accomplices, armed with ‘jackes, secreits, steilhatts’ … came thither and ‘derned’ thameselffis within the toun 1675 Ib. 3 Ser. IV. 346.
The said William having darned himselfe that night in the place 1680 Argyll Justic. Rec. I. 118.
By keeping yourself darned from the society ... of any honest people 1699 Ib. 173.
Darning themselves in the moor

b. In p.p. Hidden, concealed. 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 261.
Sum of our vnqyett subiectis repairing … to our burgh of Edinburgh … and thair contening thame darnit in sum qyett corneris and houssis 1603 Moysie 110.
Quha … had ane ambuschment of men … lyand darnit in a wood 1603 Crim. Trials II. ii. 409.
He lay darnet on his face in the boddome of the said boit 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 13.
The persouns … who wer lying derned under staires, rushed out upon thame 1651 Blairs P. 41.
The onely securest waye to saue the king was to go to London, where he might lurke & lye darned more easilie then in any other part of the cuntrey

2. tr. a. To cause to hide. b. To hide, conceal.a. a1584 Hudson Judith 86.
Holopherne, Who did a hundred famous princes derne 1637 Monro Exped. II. 112.
As the cunning hunter … giving one sweat after another, till he kill or derne, in putting the fox in the earth b. 1591 Reg. Privy C. IV. 583.
Ane gude pairt of the saidis complenaris guidis ... quhilk he dernit within the place of Closburne quhill payment wes maid to him 1699 Argyll Justic. Rec. I. 185.
Archibald Campbell did ... recept and darne within his dwelling house ... sex notorious thieves

3. intr. To seek concealment, go into hiding. a1584 Hudson Judith 31.
Their courage quailed and they began to dern 1598 Reg. Privy C. V. 443.
Quhair they darnit betuix twa hedgeis, awaiting for the said complenaris slauchter 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 116.
Our soldiers then, who lying were a darning, Be sound of trumpet having got a warning, Do kyth 1698 Fam. Innes 2.
Where they cannot prove one tytle of what they say ... , which makes these sorts of wreatings, for the most part ... darne in the dark