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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.

Frend(e, Freynd, Freind, n. Also: freyind, freend(e, frind(e; freine, frien, freen. [ME. freind(e, freend(e, frend(e, friend, OE. fréond.]

1. a. A friend; one well disposed to another. b. A kinsman, relative.(a) 1375 Barb. v. 144.
He … sperit tithandis of the queyn, And of his frendis a1400 Leg. S. ii. 1040.
We ar … Of Goddis dere frendis chosine c1420 Wynt. ii. 473.
Thare thaire frendys and thare kyn Thai myssyd all 1456 Hay I. 245/22.
Quhen a lord is dede he gettis few frendis, and lyfand men gettis ay frendis a1500 Bk. Chess 1466.
A frend is kend in gret necessite 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 449.
Chauser … was evir, God wait, all womanis frend 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 440/2.
Thair kin and frendis of the clannis and surnames of Elwald in Bagget 1549 Compl. 3/14.
The nobil princis & princessis of France, quhilkis ar ȝour natiue frendis of consanguinite and affinite(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 467.
He … passit til his freyndis twa c1475 Wall. ix. 173.
Lat be your wer, thir ar our freyndis at ane 1494 Acta Aud. 198/1.
The said George and the remanent of thair freyndis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 85 (B).
My freyindis thow reprovit with thy pen 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 151 b.
Naturalie oure sonnys and freyndis suld be to ws maist tendir and dere 1590 Conv. Burghs I. 313.
Thame selffis, thair awin kyn, freyndis, and alyes 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI iii.
All thair differences wald be setled and dressit with their awin freyndis(c) 1455 Edinb. Chart. 79.
To Williame of Prestoune of Goirtoun, sone and aire to vmquhile Williame of Prestoune of Goirtoun, and to the freindis and surname of thaim 1481 Acts II. 141/1.
All freindis strangearis and alienaris of vther cuntreis that cumis heir with merchandice 1521 Liber Melros 631.
I, myne airis forsaid, our freindis and allya [etc.] 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 58.
As to Maister Knoks, his historie is in hys freindis handis 1596 Dalr. I. 186/31.
Carancie … the king of the Scottis with the king of the Pechtes sett at ane, and maid thame fyne freindes 1619 Crim. Trials III. 482.
The freindis of the pairtie slane and he wald collude togidder 1680 Brodie Diary 429.
After the burial som freinds cam to the hous with us(d) 1543 Douglas Corr. 152.
And thus, trest cousing, fairweill … Ȝour gud frind, James G. 1570 Leslie 53.
In this treatye … suld be comprehendet the frindis … of baith the priuceis 1600-1610 Melvill 15.
A woman … belovit of hir housband's frinds and nibours 1650 Red Bk. Menteith II. 68.
Your very louing frind(e) 1604-31 Craig i. 40/24.
When my freend thy berar spurd with pane 1611-57 Mure Ps. xxxv. 14.
As freend or brother hee had been 1653 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 137.
From your wery loveing freend(f) 1603 Philotus xiv.
That me ȝe sall esteme ane freine [: meine, cleine] 1625 Garden Kings 17.
He … Made them his foes that were befoir his freens [:meens] 1673 Bk. Pasquils 201.
Come let us be friens as when we came hither

c. In contrast to fa, fo. See also Fa n. 1375 Barb. iii. 174.
Quhethir sa he be freyud or fa a1400 Leg. S. vi. 430.
That cheryte To frend & fa euire haf we 1456 Hay I. 222/32.
Thare was nane excepcionn maid, nouthir of Inglis na Franche, frende na fa Ib. II. 58/35.
He had ever the band opyn till all men, alswele frende as fa c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 36/25.
To geve almos … to all that ar in necessite, frende and fa, gud & evill c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxi. 4.
I knaw nocht … Quha is my freynd, quha is my fo

2. Used as a term of address, also with dere, gude, luffit, weilbelovit, etc. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 253.
Frende, if that it so be Ib. 283.
Dere frendes, at this counsele here 1416 Red Bk. Grandtully I. lxxii.
My luffit frende c1420 Wynt. vi. 2155.
Ha, ha, frend, I leve thé thare c1475 Wall. i. 394.
Gud frend, leiff part and tak nocht all away 1513 Doug. i. vii. 73.
Quhilk place is this, my frend, quod he 1532 Peebles B. Rec. 56.
Weilbelouit freindis, we gret you weill 1535 Stewart 22845.
Deir freind, I pray apardoun me c1568 Lauder Minor P. v. 5.
My tender freind, this in thy hart thow hint c1590 J. Stewart 221 § 84.
My efald freind, I knaw thow dois intend [etc.] 1588 Douglas Corr. 239.
Rycht honorabill and traist freend