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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1685
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Irne, n. and a. Also: irn, yrn(e, iyrne, hyrne, irrne, ierne. [ME. (chiefly north.) yrn(e, irne (a 1300), var. of Iren n. and a. Cf. Airn, Erne.] Iron.
1. The metal iron, as a material.See also Danskin and Spanȝe irne, hous, osmound, quhite irne, and dyse irne, Dys(e n. 2.(a) 1375 Barb. x. 364.
A cruk thai maid … Of irn a1400 Legends of the Saints xxii. 346.
Hat irne til his sydis lay a1400 Ib. xxxvii. 207.
Ryfe him … with irne scharpe 1426 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 3.
Of the last of maid irne, viij d 1443 Ayr Chart. 28.
To tap … walx, wyne, and irne 1456 Hay II. 56/2.
Sen thai had nane armyng, na irne to mak it of 1500 Treasurer's Accounts II. 21.
For ane compas of irne bocht to the King 1513 Doug. i. i. 77.
He had assayt … Hyd Grekis covert with irne to haue rent owt 1539–40 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 348.
For xxxix stane … braid irne to be schone to the cannoun quhelis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 14/3.
Al thay that suld be tin, irne, and led, ar in the fyre becum drosse 1581 Cath. Tr. 87/25.
Elisaeus … causit the hauie irne … sueme aboue the valter 1622-6 Bisset ii. 239/18.
That na smythis sall … coise ony auld irne(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxi. 457.
As I sal prowe it is alsa Be jugment of yrne hat 14.. Acts I. 70/2.
Na iugment … thruch dykpot na yrn c1420 Wynt. I. 1634.
Off yrne all the warlde he made 1456 Misc. Bann. C. III. 95.
xxiiij s. for xij wedy of yrn 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 28/7.
Ane file is ane instrument to file doune yrn 1549 Ib. 59/4.
The lyft did rane yrn 1596 Dalr. I. 37/25.
Loquhabre is … in yrne abundant 1596 Ib. II. 46/6.
[On his head] ane rid hett croun of yrne 1612 Acts IV. 515/1.
The licence … for making of yrne 1624 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 157.
To caus mak ane reill of yrne(c) 1623–4 Peebles B. Rec. I. 411.
For tua pund of ierne to mend the schaikellis of the nock 1626–7 Ib. 415.
b. (Coupled with stele,) as the substances of which armour is made.1375 Barb. xiv. 290.
Thai on stedis trappit weill, Sum helyt in irne and steill c1420 Wynt. viii. 6740.
The Franche men … Wyth cowerit hors in irn and steile 1513 Doug. x. viii. 109.
The brangland speir … Persand sa mony platis of irne and steill
2. An instrument or appliance or a piece of accessory tackle or fitting for various things, made of iron or as made of iron.Also with defining word, as cunȝe, elsin(e, masoun, mill, pleuch and plew, schule, spade, sterap irne, and birn, birning, marking, prenting, printing, roste, rosting, taging irne.a. In various applications. b. A cauterizing or burning iron. Usu. ane hett, hate irn. c. A branding iron. d. pl. Dies for striking coins. e. pl. A surgeon's instruments. f. pl. ploughirons.a. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii. 450.
With a scharpe yrne [to] ryf syne Of al his lymmis … the skyne 1487 Acts II. 179/1.
That ilk burghe haue thre hupe irnis … for the mesuring of the barell 1495 Acts Lords of Council I. 430/1.
As to the jakkat & bag with siluer irnis 1507–8 Treasurer's Accounts IV. 94.
To William Dalgleisch, lorymar, for spuris, sterap irnis, braid irnis, dog collar irnis [etc.] 1553–4 Edinb. Old. Acc. II. 23.
For … ane schoule with ane irne to it 1585 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 54 b.
Irnis and flawis to put vp the glaissin windokis 1586 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 318.
Tua prenting presses, with irnes 1587 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 92 b.
Sex pair of new cowpillis to the houndis, … for mending of the yrnis of aucht pair of new ledderis to thame 1593 Edinburgh Testaments XXV. 115 b.
Tuentie goffring irneis 1630 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 1.
Fywe pund for scharping of the measoun irnesb. 1507 Treasurer's Accounts IV. 77.
To Alane Coquheran for ane irn to byrn sair teith 1535 Stewart 34951.
With ane hett yrne [he] wes brint vpone the mouth 1574 Acts III. 87/1.
To be … burnt throw the girssill of the rycht eare with ane het irne … of ane inch about 1596 Dalr. I. 282/6.
Quha did vthirwise, thair lipis with ane hett yrne sulde be burntec. 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 217.
Under the pane of … escheitting of thair breid … and to be merkit with thair irnis as abefoir 1567 Digest Justiciary Proc. G. 12.
The saidis persones … to be brunt on the cheik with the tounes irne 1590 Lanark B. Rec. 96.
Scho wes decernit to be … brint on the brow with the toun irnd. 1451 Acts II. 40/2.
The new yrnis that salbe maid salbe gravin within the cunȝe place 1559 Reg. Privy S. MS. XXX. 18.
James Graye … sinkar of the irnis of oure soueranis cunȝehous 1561 Treasurer's Accounts XI. 70.
All [men] … haifand ony puncheonis or irnis maid of steill or irne 1563 Digest Justiciary Proc. E. 16.
Thomas Peblis convict … off … counterfeitting … of the irnes vnderwrittin, … the prentting irnes of ane testane [etc.] 1599 Criminal Trials II. 100.
The said Arthour forgeit ane pair of yrnes for the prent of the saidis pistulettis 1628 Cochran-Patrick Rec. Coinage II. 70.
His … travell in renewing of his majesties seallis, cashett and irnis of the cunyehousee. a1500 Bk. Chess 1681.
Be this glas a potingar is tane, Be thir irnis a maister sirnrgiane c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 37.
His yrnis was rude as ony rawchtirf. 1489 Acts Lords Auditors 137/1.
A pleuch with irnis, ȝokis, svme & uther graith 1535 Stewart 51552.
That samin carle … Come … To steill his irnes
3. An iron schackle or fetter. Chiefly in plur. Also attrib. : see Irn(e)-hous.1456 Hay I. 44/24.
All thir maneris of irnis, cheynis, fettris and boys, to prisoun men withall c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 1347.
In a dyrk cawe he was set dulfulle … in yrnys strang 1476 Acts Lords Auditors 49/1.
The taking oute of twa persouns furthe of the kingis irnis put in be the s[ch]ereif 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 62.
[They] sall incontinent … be put in strait irnis 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 347.
Ane act … anent the making of iyrnes and stokis 1585 Edin. B. Rec. iv. 418.
[The treasurer] to tak ane pair of irnis with thair schaikills furth of the tolbuith for keiping … of the transgressoures 1609 Criminal Trials III. 42.
That ane of tham that had brokin ward was lyand in ane meiddane, and had irnis vpoun him 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 193.
Thay … layed him in thair yrnes callit the long gade 1685 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 39.
The s(ai)ds keepers to taik the iernes of him
4. attrib. a. Composed or made of iron. Used to specify the material of a large number of articles, as bak, band, bar, bit, etc.1596 Fraser P. 229.
Ane irne bak of ane chimney 1375 Barb. xvii. 616.
Gret flaggatis … Gyrdit with irne-bandis braid 1513 Doug. i. v. 115.
The dreidful portis … With hard irne bandis claspit fast in cage 1609 Hilderstoun Silver Mines I. 176.
Irne bandis going round about the essay kist 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 213.
The cariage of … irne barsis … to the castell 1508 Ib. IV. 121.
For ane irn belt to the King 1456 Hay II. 49/15.
His coursere … with irne bytt in the mouth 1567 Digest Justiciary Proc. F. 61.
The said William McKie to be peirsit with ane irrne boitkin throw his tung 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 86.
Vnder the pane of setting of thame in the irne brankis 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 216.
For ane irne bullot coft in Leith a1400 Legends of the Saints xx. 188.
To keme his tendir flesch with irne camys 1651 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 119.
Sex peice of yrne canone, with the cariages [etc.] a1400 Legends of the Saints ix. 101.
Bundyne … In yrne chenȝeis 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I. 167.
Hyngand on thar schowder ij stanys in a irne chenya c1615 Chron. Kings 180.
The hand and the knyff bund with ane yrne scheangȝie to the same 1478 Acts Lords Auditors 73/2.
Ane irne chymna 1436 Ayr B. Ct. MS.
Thir women … to be with hyrne clekis put in the water a1568 Gyre-carling 8.
The carling with ane yrne club … hatt him sic ane blaw 1541 Elgin Rec. I. 59.
The said Angnes … sall … stand in the irne coller quhill iii howris efternowne 1612 Halyb. 297.
Dowbles called harnes plaittis, or irne doubles 1566 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 236.
To hing the yrne elwand in the nether tolbuith a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxvii. 285.
He … wes … brynt … With yrne forkis a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 585.
Sanct Laurence … Apoun the fire with irne forkis downg doun 1607–8 Misc. Spald. C. V. 136.
To Gilbert Blak, coupar, for fyve firlottis … with irne girds 1429 Acts II. 18/2.
That ilk ȝeman … haif … ane yrn hat with bow [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 759.
With irne nalis … Throw the handis 1645 Edinburgh Testaments LXI. 118.
Certane irne frying panes and irne drope panes 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 177.
Ane mortar of brass witht ane jrne pestell 1599 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II. 65.
Iyrne pottis … sall pay … thre pundis the twn a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xlv. 5.
The man suld haue irne schone Suld bide ane uther mannis deid a1400 Legends of the Saints xix. 547.
With yrne schorgis than gert he … hyme downgyne be 1563–4 Protocol Book of Thomas Johnsoun 138.
Ane yrne tangis 1599 St. A. Kirk S. 910.
Ane hot irn tayngis 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 43.
Ane irne towr stude beildit wondir hie 1596 Elgin Rec. II. 45.
Scho gaif command … to weshe hir barne with irne vre 1558–9 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 279.
Small irne wedges to call in the bred wechtis 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 145/33.
Nou sen that goldin varld is past, ther hes succedit ane yrn varld ?1438 Alex. ii. 1457.
Fra man haue helme and irne weid [etc.] 1501 Treasurer's Accounts II. 86.
For iiij waw of irne to be irne windois to Dunbar 1538–9 Master of Works Accounts V. 26.
For thre hankis irne wyre 1497 Treasurer's Accounts I. 334.
To bere the crukis of the irne ȝet of Dunbar 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 188.
That ane irn yet be maid … vpoun the dur of the said charterhous 1579 Reg. Privy C. III. 364.
The great irne yett of the dungeoun
b. Used for the weighing of iron.1609–10 Ayr B. Acc. 242.
The townis auld rentell of the maill of the woll trone, irn trone, firlottis [etc.]
