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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.

Grene, Grein, n. Also: greine; greyn(e; green. [ME. grene (in various senses), OE. gréne (green part), absol. use of the adj.]

1. Grassy ground; a grassy place. (Common in verse tags.)Recorded early in place-names, as Schelgrene (c 1320), Wodgrenystoun (1359). a1400 Leg. S. xx. 241.
Sewine sarkis schene He gert lay apone the grene c1420 Wynt. ii. 1270.
A tawre … Scho saw ner by hir on the grene [C. greyn] Gnyppand girs ?1438 Alex. i. 2567.
His helme stikkit in the grene c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 50 b.
A thowsand knichtis keine … lyand on the grein 1513 Doug. v. ii. 116.
Scatterit endlang the greyn, the colis hett Ib. v. vi. 3.
A fayr plane greyn … Quhilk was enveronyt al with hyllys hie c1590 J. Stewart 77/149.
The litile lambis bendit on the greine 1661 Glasgow Chart. II. 38.
All and sundrie … mures, mosses, greines, etc. 1670 Elgin Rec. I. 313.
That no persones cast the greines of the cattaills herefter

b. An open piece of grassy ground, esp. that forming part of the grounds of a manor-house or castle. a1500 Seven S. 79.
In the middis of a faire grene Thai biggit the chalmer 1522 Acta Conc. MS. XXXIII. 20.
The castell of West Nvdry, … medowis, grene, and dowcoite of the samin 1533 Boece vi. iii. 190.
His corps was beryit in ane fare grene, beside the castell of Evon a1578 Pitsc. I. 92/2.
He … tuk him be the hand and led him furth to the greine, quhair the gentillman was lyand deid 1595 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 422.
Fortalicium de Kynedward, hortos et lie greynis eiusdem 1684 Glamis Bk. of Rec. 34.
The north and middle greens, clouts of cornland. The south green, a piece of my father's planting and oarchard

c. A town or village green. Also attrib.(a) 1342 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 44.
De illo tenemento … in vico del Grene [in Aberdeen] 1377–8 Reg. Great S. (1814) 153/2.
De illa terra in vico de le grene c1420 Wynt. viii. 4587.
Welle nere be the Grenys end [of Aberdeen] Thai mete that tyme ma than thai wend 1458 Exch. R. VI. 465.
Capella beate Virginis … prope Invernys de le Grene 1541–2 Elgin Rec. I. 69.
Lecence … to cast dwuettis vpone the grenis of the said tovne 1581 Prot. Bk. J. Robertsone 16.
Ane for hous lyand within the grene of the said burcht a1570-86 Maitl. F. cix. 47.
Quhone ȝoung men cwmis fra the grene At the futball playing had bene(b) c1475 Wall. vi. 645.
In Jhonnys greyne he gert the ost ly still 1618–9 Misc. Spald. C. V. 142.
Spent at the tacking saising be the toune of Johnne Fraseris hous in the greyne(c) 1579 Edinb. Test. VII. 287.
Ane brasin pot quhilk wes brocht fra the greinhed 1598 Treas. Acc. MS. 87.
To the monting of the cannoun and keiping of thame vpoun the grein [of Glasgow] c1650 Spalding II. 356.
Thay marchit this nicht to Chrysts grein at Wdny 1677 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 297.
The calsies built and made wp in the Grein(d) 1653 Peebles B. Rec. II. 9.
The tounes commoun ground, callit … the green, … to be rowpit and sett to ane burges 1687 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 406.
Trees and cabers … whilk they burnt upon the green

d. A field of combat; lists. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 439.
No man … preissit to cum within the grene, Bot heraldis and the campiounis kene

2. Green clothing or dress (lit. and fig.); green cloth or material. c1420 Wynt. viii. 2040.
Quhat caus has thow to were the grene 1455 Acts II. 43/2.
That all men of lawe that ar forspekaris for the cost haif habitis of grene c1475 Wall. i. 382.
Till him raid v [= five] cled in to ganand greyne Ib. vi. 9.
In Aperill quhen … woddis has won thar worthy weid off greyne 1495 Treas. Acc. I. 226.
j ell of Inglis grene, to be a pare of brekis 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1094.
To the howlet … I laif my gaye galbarte of grene a1540 Freiris Berw. 149 (B).
The burde scho cuverit with clath of costly greyne 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 121.
Thre elnis and ane half of Frenche grein to covre the ministers burd 1565–6 Prot. Bk. T. Johnstoun 97.
3 greyne burd clayths of Inglis greyne

3. Green colour. c1475 Wall. ix. 114.
A bend of greyn … , The greyn [betakynnys] curage, encressand his entent a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 476.
Ferly fayr wes the feild, flekerit and faw With gold and goulis in greyne 15.. Clar. ii. 901.
His weid … with gold depaintit full bricht, Out throw the greine gudlie to decerne c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3.
Thou lytill quair, … Weill auchtest thou coverit to be with sabill, Renuncand grene, the purpour, reid and quhyte