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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.

Gamin, Gam(m)yn, n. Also: gammyne. [ME. gamm-, gamyn, -in, -en, OE. gamen, ON. gaman. Cf. Gam n.¹ and Game n.]

1. Game, sport, play. (Common in early poetry.)(a) 1375 Barb. iii. 465.
The gud king … maid thaim gamyn and solace c1420 Wynt. iv. 335.
Othirwayis he wndyrstude Than eftyrwarde the gamyn yhed Ib. vii. 3622.
Away wes sons … Off wyne and wax, off gamyn and gle ?1438 Alex. i. 1395.
Is nane of thame, I trow, had thocht Of gamin or play Ib. ii. 1267.
Thay suld repent thame of the gamyn a1500 Gol. & Gaw 1144.
Gromys of that garisoune maid gamyn and gle a1500 Colk. Sow i. 290.
Than all assemblit with a gamyn 1533 Boece iii. i. 90 b.
He delitit in hunting, … ffor in sic sorte of gamyn … he was maist exercit(b) 1375 Barb. vii. 36.
Bot othir ways the gammyn ȝude Ib. xvii. 908.
He … maid thame fest with gammyn and gle a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 64.
Nothir in gammyne na in play Ib. xxix. 727.
Thai … carpit sammyne Quhilis of hernyst & quhilis of gammyn c1420 Wynt. iv. 487.
Bot or the gammyn wes all gane Thai payid ma than twa for ane Ib. v. 2034.
Thai met samyn … And melyd togyddyr off thare gammyn 1533 Bell. Livy I. 18/32.
Als wele in merynes as in vther more ernyst gammyn Ib. 90/25.
To fecht … with landwert staffis … in thare gammyn

2. The sport of, or what may be got by, hunting. 1375 Barb. vii. 401.
He vent till hwnt, for till assay Quhat gammyn wes in that cuntre a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 207.
He … skalyt his men here & thare Fenȝeand he wist thare gammyn ware c1420 Wynt. vi. 1235.
In thare gamyn thai slwe a hare 1423 Reg. Great S. 11/2.
Twa forestar stedis … with the gamyn onsetis and dwelling places that thai now haff

3. Gastly gammyne, spiritual joy. a1400 Leg. S. i. 112.
Than kissit thai othir sammyne, Gretand faste, with gastly gammyne Ib. xxxix. 230.

4. A game of skill or chance. 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV. 101/2.
To the king to play at the Irisch gammyn