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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.

Harnes, -nas, -neis, n. Also: harnais, -nace, -nese, -nis. [ME. harnais (a 1300), -nays, -nes, -neis. -nis, OF. harneis (F. -nais). See also Hernais.]

1. The defensive armour worn by a man or war-horse.Also hors-, leg-, ail-, quhite harnes, q.v.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 112.
Small rangale That ȝemyt harnas and vittale Ib. 116.
All thai that bar harnas 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 9.
The brethir of the gilde sall fynd the knyghtes in harnace 1456 Hay II. 32/6.
For knycht in weris but hors and harnais is lytill prisit c1475 Wall. iv. 95.
Syne spoilȝeid thai the harnais or thai wend c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 73.
His harnas brakand maid ane brattil a1578 Pitsc. II. 118/31.
Gret spuilȝie … bayth of … arteilȝerie waponis and harnas(b) 1425 Acts II. 8/1.
That all merchandis passande oure the see … bring hame … harnes & armouris 1456 Hay I. 84/33.
A knycht is usit in harnes Ib. 301/26.
The knychtis … lay hard, and mare in harnes na in fether beddis 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 65.
For mylne quhelis for the diching of the Kingis harnes 1513 Doug. xi. ii. 32.
The remanys of hys harnes and geir 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 30.
To lyn the Kingis harnes, iij elnis dome grane c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2036.
Thare wes na harnes in the lande, For till defend nor till invaid a1578 Pitsc. I. 174/22.
His humelt [= helmet] ower gilt with gould and so was all the rest of his harnes 1622-6 Bisset II. 225/7.
The spulȝe … of cleithing, harnes, and vapynnis … that beis fundin upoun … men of weir(c) 1456 Hay I. 161/10.
A pure creature that … never bare harneis, na wappin a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 882.
Thai hynt of his harnese, to helyn his wound 15.. Clar. ii. 1078.
Palexis did his harneis on him brace 1570 Leslie 75.
The Lord Hamiltoun faucht with him in harneis vailyeantlie c1590 J. Stewart 51/106.
His haberȝsone and harneis all … Quhilk as ane barrier held his bazon bak(d) 1442 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 8.
At the waichman be sufficiently boddin with harnis and wappynnys 1501 Edinb. Hammermen 35.
To iiij men at bur the four standartis in harnis 1513 Doug. ii. ix. 65.
The auld … A dart did cast, quhilk … can stynt On his harnys a1578 Pitsc. I. 208/15.
The king … was sa brucklit in his harnis witht the fall that he fell in deidlie swne

b. ellipt. The putting on of armour. Also fig., making ready for action. a1500 Bk. Chess 514.
Apone the morne thai [the women] all to harnes go 1531 Bell. Boece I. 199.
Incontinent, all his allia and freindis ruschit to harnes 1533 Boece xvi. xiii. 627 b.
The Scots incontinent went to harnes and met the duke of Clarence on ane plane

2. The harness of a draught- or pack-horse. c1475 Wall. iv. 39.
Thai cutt the brays & leyt the harnes faw 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 239.
Gevin for the making of ane harnes to turs the Kingis letacampbed 1695 Foulis Acc. Bk. 176.
For a pint of moriehead and feit for the coatch and harnis

3. In transferred uses. c1420 Wynt. i. 449.
Nakyde wes his [Noah's] harnays hare, Bak and buttoke bath wes bare 1513 Edinb. Hammermen 79.
To the harnis of the queir viij d. 1687 New Mills Cloth Manuf. 162.
A dozen of woollen harnesses for broad loomes

4. Attrib. with doublet, hose, nail, plate, spur, sword. 1495 Treas. Acc. I. 226.
vj quarteris of quhit treilȝe … to be the King a harnes doublet 1496 Ib. 302.
For a harnas sword to the King 1497 Ib. 341.
For ane par of gret harnas spuris to the king 1507 Ib. IV. 14.
For vij quartaris quhit to be ane pair of harnes hos to the King c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvii. 47.
Ay betuix the harnes plaitis The vly birstit out 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 297.
Dowbles called harnes plaittis or irne dowbles Ib. 322.
Nailles called ... harnes naillis the sowme contening ten thowsand vi li.

b. Harnes sadle, a pack-saddle. 1483 Acta Aud. *112/1.
A harnes sadle, price xlv s. 1494 Treas. Acc. I. 238.
Gevin to Gildow to by flolkis [sic] to the harnes sadillis 1498 Ib. 388.
For ane harnas sadill to the Kingis coffres 1503 Ib. II. 202.
For ane curpal and ane tee to the harines sadill, … mending and stopping ofsamyn 1505 Ib. III. 166.
For vi pund flokkis to the harnes sadill

c. Harnes mill, the work-shop of an armourer. 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 270.
For tymmer and diners odir expens maid apone the bigging of the harnes mill 1502 Ib. II. 143.
To the Frauch armorar to set up his harnas myln