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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.

Dint, Dynt, n. [ME. dint, dynt, OE. dynt.]

1. A severe blow or heavy stroke, esp. one given with a weapon in fighting. To dele dintis: see Dele v. 2 c.Frequently used by Barbour and Douglas, and in the Alexander. 1375 Barb. ii. 369.
He him selff … sa hard and hewy dyntis gave Ib. iii. 114; etc.
He raucht till him sic a dynt a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 692.
He hynt the prioure be the hare … Gyfand hyme mony dintis sare Ib. xxviii. 705.
He … hyre vnhedyt at a dynt c1420 Wynt. viii. 4881.
Off that dynt thare dede he lay Ib. 6268.
Wyth a dynt off a knyff ?1438 Alex. ii. 592.
Ȝe ar ouer auld dintis to ta 1513 Doug. ii. iv. 44.
Gif on his forhed the dynt hyttis nocht rycht Ib. viii. vii. 116.
The bustuus dyntis on the styddeys seir 1533 Boece viii. vi. 260 b.
Ane rout of walit men … with awfull dyntis invadit the batell 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1345.
With my bedstaf that dastard beirs ane dint 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9299.
I am waik and febill as ȝe kend, Fra his greit dyntis I dow not me defend c1590 J. Stewart 31/58.
The knycht of Clairmont … On Sacripant ane ackwart dint did ding

b. Without article, or with possessive pronoun. a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 246.
Thi modir … sal de be dynt of bytande brande c1420 Wynt. viii. 2055.
Thare he gave thame dynt for dynt ?1438 Alex. i. 1357.
His suord was drawin in his hand, Agane his dynt had nocht warrand 1456 Hay I. 50/19.
Quhare mony worthy man … was borne doune dede to grounde, throu dynt of hand c1475 Wall. ii. 116.
For dynt of suerd thai durst nocht till hym gang Ib. iv. 619.
Agayne his dynt na weidis mycht awaill c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 76.
Thay set avpone him with a ȝowle, And gaif him dynt for dynt 1513 Doug. ii. x. 63.
The ald waykly, but fors or dynt A dart dyd cast Ib. v. v. 59.
With smart dynt or stane kast 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 355.
Quho clymith moist heych moist dynt hes of the wedder 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 102.
In to dykis by dint it deidly dang thame a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 6 b.
Efter lang mint, never dint

c. With mention of the weapon, etc., used; esp. swerdis dynt. (See also stingis, stokis dynt.) 1375 Barb. ii. 139.
He … fellyt hym with a suerdys dynt 1456 Hay I. 49/36.
He … gave him sik a dynt of spere that he wende he had slayn him 1513 Doug. ix. iii. 123.
Now nowder Rutyliane fyre nor swerdis dynt May thai withstand, for all thar fors is tynt 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxi.
Ane terrible beist … [that] straik doun gret treis with the dint of hir tail 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 75.
His mercy loist, we wan the swordis dint

2. fig. A force or effect comparable to a blow; an assault, onset, or shock. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 119.
The dynt of ded, Agane the quhilk is na remed 1461 Liber Plusc. 396.
Hir [sc. Fortune's] forfatouris … For quhilkis hir dyntis is dishonour or dede 1513 Doug. xii. h. 2.
The fatale dynt of deth 1533 Bell. Livy I. 145/16.
He suld resist the dynt of inemyis … quhil the brig war brokin 1567 G. Ball. 126.
Throw his bitter deide I mis Of hell the dyntis dour 1580 Inverness B. Rec. I. 276.
In case thai be fundin sleuthfull … to vnderlye the dynt of the said Act of Parliament 1597 Melvill 416.
I fear he suffer the dint of the King's wrathe 1607 Ib. 688.
The dint … will lycht on the Kirk … and standeres by of the same 1623 Perth Kirk S. 305.
She could help bairns who had gotten ane dint of ill wind 1654 Baillie III. 252.
The next heavie dint shall fail on the chief of the ministrie

b. To stele a dint, to seize an occasion of acting against a person or thing. Also a stollin dint. 1521 Acta Conc. MS. XLIII. 82 b.
The said Iohne … intending in his absence to steile ane dynt apoun him 1585 Melvill 242.
Chryst saying, ‘Dic Ecclesiæ’, and a onlie man stelling that dint in a quyet holl 1610 Ib. 792.
No man so much as dreamit of sic effect as at ane stollin dint … to overthraw ane work seventie yeiris in building