Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Halflin, n. Also: -ling. [f. Half adj. and -lin(g, as in Ȝingling, etc. Cf. Half-lang adj. and n. 2 b.] A half-grown youth; a stripling. — 1656 Edinb. Justices Peace 407.
A man servant of younger years, commonly called a halfling, being a domestick servant, is to have yearly for fee and bounteth twenty merks Scots 1662 Greyfriars Interments i.
Thomas Abel, a haflin 1685 Ib. 4.
John Adam, tailor, a halflin 1697 Ib. 5, etc.