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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Game, n. Also: gaim, gem. [ME. game (13th c.), reduced form of gamen Gamin n. For further illustration of the form gem, see Gem n.²]

1. Game, sport. Also in pl.,(1) a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 795.
All game and gle is gane fra me away 1513 Doug. i. ix. 96.
Throwe owt the cyte all suld be game and play 1535 Stewart 28777.
With mekle game and glew Of trumpet, … and of clarion cleir c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1187.
All this game he bocht full deir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 361.
Him to gyde … Quhylis to wisdome, and quhylis to game and sport a1578 Pitsc. II. 125/14.
This trywmphe … continwit the space of xx dayis with … all knychtlie game convenient for the tyme 1596 Dalr. II. 68/18.
Of gemm or play … was nother want nor skant(2) 1513 Doug. v. Prol. 45.
Quha so lyst seyr glaidsum gemmys [R. gamis] leyr a1568 Scott i. 181.
Frank ferce gallandis for feild gemmis enfors 1567 Sat. P. iii. 33.
In gamis glaid he was rycht weill assuetit 1574 St. A. Kirk S. 406.
That nane of them presume … to violat the Sabbat day be using of playis and gemmis 1598 Acts IV. 160/1.
The Saboth day … hes bene abuisit … be hanting and vsing of gaimis … vpon the said day

2. Sport in hunting. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 186.
The deir ar constranit to discend … to the planis to serche thair fude, and oftimes murdrist bot ony game Id. Livy II. 149/11.
Remember that game and plesere of hunting drawis men to strate montanis 1535 Stewart 16880.
All the lang da thai huntit with grit game