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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.

Hend(e, Heynd, a. Also: heind. [ME. heende, hende (c 1205), north. heynd, heind (a 1300), app. aphetic f. OE. ᵹehende near, convenient. As in ME., used only in verse, esp. alliterative.]Often used conventionally, merely for the sake of rhyme or alliteration, so that the precise sense is not always clear.

1. Skilful, dexterous; clever, expert. c1450-2 Howlat 631.
I leif thaim blasonde to be with harraldis hende c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 192.
Dame Hamelynes … That hardy was and hende in archery 15.. Christis Kirk 83.
Ane haistie hensour callit Harie Quhilk wes ane archer heynd

2. Pleasant in dealing with others: courteous, gracious; kind, gentle.(a) a1500 Henr. Bludy Serk 118.
Hend men, will ȝe nocht herk? 1535 Stewart 5091.
This Julius that gentill wes and hend(b) ?1438 Alex. ii. 6854.
Fezonas was weill taucht and heynd a1500 Henr. III. 90/19.
Be heynd, courtas, and fair of feir a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 126.
The heynd knight at his haist held to the tovne 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 450.
Gentil redaris heynd [Sm. hend], Lat all my faltis with this offens pas by Ib. vii. xiii. 123.
Gif forton war so heynd By aventour of weir tobe his frend 1535 Stewart 7653.
Tha to thé sall curtas be and heind, As thé to hald for fallow and for freindIb. 25367. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1427.
Speik we of our heynd Squyar, Of quhome we can not speik bot gude a1570-86 Maitl. F. lxxx. 2.
Vnder ane birkin bank me by I harde ane heynd cheild mak his mane

b. absol. or as n. Gentle one, courteous one. a1500 Rauf. C. 967.
His wyfe wald he nocht forȝet; … He send efter that hende a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 183.
He had that heynd to ane hall Ib. 219.
The King thankit the heynd c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 32.
Flowris Off alkin hewis under hewin, that ony heynd knew a1568 Bann. MS. 224 a/34.
Quhat may I do bot to that heyndbehald a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 57.
In hy eftir that heynd I ȝeid, And in my armes could hir hent

3. Pleasant, agreeable, suitable. c1450-2 Howlat 325.
The Falcone … Was ane erll of honour, hende to behold Ib. 893.
The farest foule of the firth and hendest of hewes c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 14.
I was heildit with hawthorne and with heynd leveis 1513 Doug. v. xii. 113.
Follow the counsale [that] is maist ganand and heynd [L. pulcherrima] Ib. vii. ii. 40.
To remane heir is our cuntre heynd

4. adv. Mannerly, in a seemly manner. 1535 Stewart 29188.
Beseikand him richt curtaslie and heind