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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.

Drink, Drynk, n. Also: dring, dryng, drenk. [ME. drink (dring, drenk), drinke, OE. drinc, drinca.]

1. Liquid of any kind that is or may be swallowed. c1420 Wynt. iv. 990.
To scant all rynnand ryverys were For to be drynk till his powere Ib. v. 597.
Thai gert hym … In tyll a drawcht off drynk swelly A paddog yhong c1420 Ratis R. 636.
To thaim that are in mistyr grete Gyf of thi met and of thi drink a1500 Rauf C. 81.
Nouther hes thow had of me fyre, drink, nor meit c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 27.
I … to hungre meit, nor drynk to thristy gaif Ib. lvi. 8.
To gif him drink that thristis sair 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 59.
All mon purches drynk at thy sugurit tun 1562 Reg. Cupar A. I. 363.
The said nynteine bretheren, for thair sustentatioun, brede and drink, conforme to vs and wont 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 24.
Demandit to quhome scho applyit the pulder in drink, declairit [etc.] 1588 King Cat. 166.
I haue … mynglit my drink with teers

b. Coupled with mete (= food).Usually mete and drink: see Mete n. 1375 Barb. ix. 37.
He forbare bath drink and met a1500 Bernardus 288.
To sustene hungir gret And gret skantnes, … batht of drink & met

c. Strong drink; intoxicating liquor. c1450-2 Howlat 799.
Set hir dovne, gif hir drink 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 123.
The sayd balyhe laid don … xij d to Tempill in drenk qwhen he ressafit the gold in Marion Lauson a1500 Prestis of Peblis 244.
He wepis nocht … Quhill drynk and dys haf powrit him to the pyn c1500-c1512 Dunb. vi. 16.
Ȝit wald my mouth be wet with drink 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 85.
Saying opinlie. scho came thair to get part of thair drink, becaus it vas better nor hir aill at hame

d. Partaking of drink; drinking. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxix. 17.
Quhen men that hes purssis in tone, Passis to drynk or to disione 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 246.
Thomas Davie … deponit … he was in cumpanie … at the drink, bot saw na appearance of drunkennes

2. A certain kind of liquor. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 319.
A quyk wel sprang, & sic dring gef, That al seknes it can sawe 1456 Hay I. 188/29.
Nouthir ete thai of oure metis, na drink thai of oure drynkis, as of wyne Ib. II. 136/17.
Gif a man thocht that wyne war our stark drynk till him a1500 Bernardus 68.
Thus sal be thar fude, Nocht delicate, smale drynk and metis rude c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 67/25.
Delicious metis and drinkis enclynand me to syn c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 509.
Than culit thai thair mouthis with confortable drinkis a1540 Freiris Berw. 319.
Quhat drinkis wald ȝe craif, Or quhat meitis desyre ȝe for to haif? a1578 Pitsc. I. 244/9.
All kynd of delicat and delicious meittis and drinkis 1596 Dalr. I. 17/7.
This drink the commone peple commonlie callis brogat 1620 Perth Kirk S. 296.
She should be … nourished on bread and small drink only ane certain space

3. A portion of liquor; a draught. a1400 Leg. S. v. 347.
Sancte Johne ȝet but abaysitnes The samyne drink … drank al oute c1420 Wynt. v. 619.
Wytht a drynk than … Owt at his mouth thai gert hym cast That paddog a1500 Henr. Orph. 288.
The watter stude and Tantalus gat a drink c1500 Interl. Droich 173.
God blis thame … Givis me a drink, sa it be gude c1500-c1512 Dunb. v. 30.
Out of hevin … cought the wif gang For to get hir ane fresche drink, the aill of hevin wes sour 1582 Lanark B. Rec. 89.
Bege Symsoun cryit for me to cum to hir chalmer and get ane drink

b. A health or toast. 1645 St. A. Presb. 24.
They did sing a malignant song, and drinke drinkes to James Grahame … and others Ib.
He had heard diverse … drinke that drinke in Edinburgh

4. Attrib. with barrell, cloth. 1632–3 Misc. Spald. C. V. 103.
Ane drink cloth, that day losset and put away 1625 Edinb. Test. LIII. 115.
Tua drinke barrellis, pryce of baithe x s.