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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.

Erand, Eirand, Earand, n. Also: erande, -ant, -end, -ent; errand, -ant; eirrand; eareand, ear(r)end; ærend, airand, harand, herent, irand. [ME. erand(e, erende, etc., OE. ǽrende, ON. erende, erindi.] An errand; a matter of business on which one is sent or goes; the object of a journey.(a) a1400 Leg. S. v. 100.
Sancte Iohne, that than erand had ner by Ib. xl. 1026.
[He] vpe and done … Did his erandis in the ton c1420 Wynt. vii. 1929.
This pape … sped thare erandys ilke dele Ib. vii. 2253.
On this erand alsa fast Infurmyd welle thir monkys past 1456 Hay II. 162/7.
To … avis quhat messangeris thou traistis in to bere thy secrete lettreis and erandis … till strangeris 1464 Peebles B. Rec. 150.
In tym of gangyng to the kyrk or another neidful erand 1495 Halyb. 12.
Item … send to Rom … for the solystin of his erandis 30 ducatis 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 250/1.
Thare pilgramage to Sanct Jhon … for atheris thare erandis thar to be done c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 939.
Scho … maid hir to take furth ane boxe, Bot that was not hir erand thair 1567 G. Ball. 237.
Think quhy thow come, and quhat thy erand was 1571 St. A. Kirk S. 357.
Quhat was his erend the deponent kennis nocht 1622-6 Bisset II. 248/12.
Gif the maister send thame any erand for the proffett of the schip 1639 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. .
The minister says his erent is to gett ane suspensioun for the comprysing 1668 Dundee B. Laws 450.
When it shall please the Lord to get ane call from the collector to rid or goe the townes erantes(b) 1492 Acta Conc. 250/1.
Fifti merkis aucht to him … for solistatioune of ther errandis the tyme he wes alderman a1585 Maitl. Q. xxiii. 2.
Sumtyme to court I did repair Thairin sum errandis for to dres 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 281.
[He] come … to Edinburgh, and obtenit litill or nathing of his errands expeid 1622 Haddington Corr. 142.
I made a vnprofitable jornay both for the mis of my errant and your lordship(c) 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 396/2.
To … repare to Edinburgh … to commoun with the said governour and do thair eirandis a1568 Scott iii. 26.
Reckles nocht ȝour eirand for the rane a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cxii. 2.
Sum tyme to court I did repair Thairin sum eirrandis for to dres 1593 Warrender P. II. 188.
Your Majestie hes understand … the haill plott of the eirand I caryit 1615 Highland P. III. 208.
Gif you go fordwart at this tyme you sall spill the haill eirand 1645 Baillie II. 255.
Our maine eirand hither at this time is … to give some account … of the imployment of your servants(d) 1586 Warrender P. I. 175.
We are … cassin in a dispaire to do any gude in the earand we came for 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 60.
I beand … doand my leasome earandis and busines 1608 Dundonald Par. Rec. 171.
Scho ves not send for hir mother … and vent not that earand 1617 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 349.
To trawell effectuouslie with the twa archibischopes … to get the said eareand exped and done 1641 Baillie I. 376.
He pressed his libertie, shewing his great earend out of England was [to obtain this relief] from the Assemblie 1687 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII. 177.
They permittit her to take away two sheep … efter she told them it wes her earand(e) 1524 Stirling B. Rec. I. 20.
To pas na harandis bot gife he have lyefe … and gife his harandis be gret and nyeidfull c 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 75.
Folkis of honesty passand thair leifull airands 1599 Ib. V. 244.
To provyde him money for doing of this maist necessar airand 1668 Dundee B. Laws 450.
To rid or goe ther owen herents 1675 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 202.
The tounes trumpiter … to wait … wpon the magistratis for goeing of irandis

b. Anis erand, as a special errand, for the express purpose. (Cf. Norw. eins œrend.) 1599 Conv. Burghs II. 49.
William Hunter … quhome we send for anis eirand for the samyn purpois 1600-1610 Melvill 120.
I … past ower to Edinbruche annes earend to visit him Ib. 321.
We haiff takin occasion, annes earand, to direct him toward you