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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.

Hint, Hynt, v. P.t. and p.p. hint, hynt (also p.t. hynte, p.p. hinted, p.t. and p.p. hyntit). [Northern ME. hint (a 1300), p.t. hint, hynt, p.p. hyntyd; midl. and south. hent(e, henten, OE. hentan. See also Hent v.]

1. tr. To take hold of (a thing or person), to grasp or seize.Usually in the p.t. or p.p. Numerous examples occur in Douglas's Æneid. 1375 Barb. ii. 415.
Schir Philip … raid till him full hardyly, And hynt hys rengȝe Ib. viii. 470.
In gret hy thair hors hint thai a1400 Leg. S. iii. 59.
The young man hynt … a wattir crowat Ib. ix. 183.
Full mony thane rapis hynte Ib. xl. 1046.
He ves hynt be how and hayre ?1438 Alex. ii. 1263.
With his neiffis he him hint Full sturdely c1475 Wall. v. 837.
Sum hurt, sum hynt, sum derfly dong to dede Ib. vii. 1181.
The horn he hyntyt 1513 Doug. vi. iii. 33.
Triton … hym hyntis Ib. xi. xiii. 51.
As that he … stowpand was … To hynt hys horsis reyn 15.. Clar. ii. 1138.
Two speiris have they hint, And ran togidder Ib. iii. 495.
The murderer … haistilie hir hint

b. To grasp or seize by, or be (some thing or part), or in (the, or his, etc.) hand, etc.(1) 1375 Barb. iii. 113.
Ane him by the bridill hynt Ib. viii. 82.
Ane hynt hym by the brand a1500 Henr. Fab. 329.
Bawdronis the vther [mouse] be the bak hes hint Ib. 472.
The foxe … hint him be the throte 1513 Doug. ii. x. 61.
Me by the rycht hand hynt scho, and held fast a1568 Bann. MS. 49 b/69.
Deid … hint him be the back 1604-31 Craig v. 12.
Thy foe … Hints the prey by the tayle(2) 1375 Barb. xvi. 603.
He hynt in hand a stalward sper a1400 Leg. S. iv. 169.
He … in his handis hynt his fete Ib. xxii. 290.
Athyre vthyre in armys hint ?1438 Alex. ii. 4034.
May I him hint in hand c1475 Wall. iv. 255.
His men … In handis hynt … the layff 1513 Doug. ix. ix. 86.
As a ravanus wolf … Hyntis in hys gowl … The litill tendyr kyd Ib. xi. xiii. 10.
Ane stalwart ax scho hyntis in hir hand 1535 Stewart 17346.
Carthlyntus … Vp in his armis hint him haistely 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4212.
The gardnaris ax scho hint into hir hand 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 215.
I hope … To see thame hyntit in handis haistilie 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 169.
Each man of us a gabion hints in hand

c. With various prepositional or adverbial complements denoting drawing, raising, taking away, etc.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 561.
Thare bayt in thai hynte Ib. 794.
God … halely to hyme has hyr hynt Ib. xxx. 815.
The abbot son hym hynt On horse be-hynde hym a1500 Rauf C. 696.
For he was vnburely, on bak thay him hynt a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 583.
Than wes Galiot the gome hynt in till ane hald(2) a1400 Leg. S. xix. 393.
His men … Hynt hyme vpe, & in cheyre set c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2745.
Sche … Hynt wp hire child and fled fast 1513 Doug. viii. xii. 141.
Eneas … Apon hys schulder hyntis vp … The famus honour Ib. xi. xiv. 64.
Lyk as … the ȝallo egill … The eddir hyntis vp(3) 1375 Barb. vii. 580.
The gud king … hint out of a manis hand a bow Ib. 587.
[He] hynt fra his baneour the banar Ib. xii. 145.
His men … Hynt of thair basnetis a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 197.
Ful fele that … fand the barne ȝet lyand thare, & hynt it out a1500 Rauf C. 575.
Of his harnes … he hynt a1500 Henr. Orph. 397.
Quhen that his wyf ... so sone was hynt him fro 1513 Doug. ii. xii. 10.
Of tempillis brynt … the veschel war furth hynt Ib. x. xiv. 162.
Eneas … Hynt furth his swerd 1535 Stewart 41203.
The king … hint the baner sone out of his hand 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2907.
His fathers heid he hint of haistilie 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 85.
Dame Nigartnes my gluifis hes hint away c1590 J. Stewart 61/165.
Out Durandal than hints he with ane bend

2. fig. To seize upon, take, acquire, get. Also, to conceive, gestate. ?1438 Alex. i. 1604.
Sic hardement thai hint … That thai ilkane turnit agane a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 812.
Under thaim hell to hynt thaim as a pray a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 703.
In that hailsing thai hynt grete harmys c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 8.
Hell suld nocht hyd thair harnis fra harmis hinting 1513 Doug. vii. vii. 86.
The tremblyng hynt all membris of his body Ib. x. xiii. 141.
He sychit … and rewth has hynt c1568 Lauder Minor P. v. 5.
This in thy hart thou hint, And haue it euer in thy memorye a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxviii. 14.
Mischance me hint 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 10.
I remember the poet ... Eight years digest what you have rudly hinted And in the ninth yeare let the same be printed

3. absol. a. To lay hold to (a person or thing). b. To hold on one's way.a. ?1438 Alex. ii. 8533.
Marciane with his handis baith To him hint c1475 Wall. xi. 175.
The tother hynt to Wallace … , And he agayn … him grippyt sayr 1513 Doug. xi. ix. 20.
All on steir Thai hynt to harnesb. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 62.
He … Syne hynt to ane hie hall