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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.

Kind, Kynd, adj. Also: kinde, kynde, kyind, keind, keynd. [ME. kind(e, kynd(e, western i(cunde, kunde, kuynde, southern and midl. kende, OE. ᵹecynde.]The commonest rhyme-word is mynd; also strynd, Ynde, and declynd, inclynd, pynd p.p., etc.: several rhymes with frend, freynd also occur.

1. Native; (the country, place, etc.) of one's birth or origin. Common in Douglas. c1420 Wynt. vii. 550.
A grene tre fra the rwte wes sawyn, And fra it a space wes drawyn; … This tre may happyn for to get The kynd rwte and in it be set c1450 Cr. Deyng 20.
The payment of naturell det, the agane-cumynge to the kynde lande c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 24.
Kynd natyve nest dois clek bot owlis 1513 Doug. v. xiii. 82.
Quharfra thou hes thi first original, As thi kynd grund and cuntre natural Ib. vi. xiv. 39.
His kynd natyve land Ib. vii. viii. 57.
The deir, so deidly woundit … Onto his kynd resset can fleyng hame Ib. xi. xvii. 61; etc.
For defens of thar kynd wallys hie

b. Of a person: Native to (a country). 1375 Barb. ix. 448.
Thai war kynde to the cuntrie, He wist c1475 Wall. vii. 220.
Off Carrik men Kennadys slew ... And kynd Cambellis, that neuir had beyne fals

2. Belonging or pertaining to one by birth or inheritance; lawful, rightful. c1475 Wall. x. 1055.
Tak the croun; till ws it war kyndar To bruk for ay, or fals Eduuard it war 1570 Sat. P. xiii. 130.
Ȝe … Baneist his gudschir from his kynde heritage 1625 Garden Kings 7.
Butcheour-like, his subjects kind he kills

b. Rightful (heir). c1400 Troy-bk. i. 42.
Leamedone that aw this land As kynd lord 1456 Hay I. 106/28.
To reconquest it and bring it [the kingdom of Jerusalem] to the kynde airis

c. Related, of one's kin. = Kindly a. 2.The 1572 quot. may possibly belong under 6 b, however. 1513 Doug. iii. vii. 36.
Tak thir with thé as lattir presandis seir Of thi kynd natyve frendis gudis and geir 1516 Selkirk B. Ct. fol. 51b.
The said William sal tak Johne Champnaye … to prentes … doand to him favourablie as suld be done to an prentes or a kynd frend 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 136.
Be gude Lord Deddy, my trew faithfull freind, Cum of ane race of men to me [Lady Scotland] maist kynd

3. a. Of a bondman or tenant: Belonging by birth to the lands specified or to a particular lord. = Kindborn(e a. 1381 Douglas Chart. 30.
Owr awin kynde men born vtuthe hir forsaid thrid anyrly ovtakyn Ib.
In case gif ony man be duelland in our landes … kyndmane to the landes of hir thrid forsaid 1456 Misc. Bann. C. III. 97.
To my barnes … and all my kyndmen and servandis 1522 Coll. Rebus Alban. 87.
We sall persew his aduersareis … as a kind lord and maister suld persew … ony that injures his kynd men and servandis … als lang as the said Johne … and his ayres kepis till us … thair band of manrent

b. = Kindly a. 5 d. 1548 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 577.
The said Robert renounces … all rancour … and sall nocht remoif thaim fra thar kynd rowmes, takkis or stedingis

4. Natural. a. In accordance with the natural order of things. b. Innate, inherent.a. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxvi. 65.
It micht, be this, had it bein kynd, Cummin out of the desertis of Ynde 1572 Buch. Detect. (1572) A. v.
He must neidis cum back, of purpois, … to recover the kynde societie of mariageb. c1420 Wynt. ix. 2599 (St. A.).
It is of Inglis nacioune The comon kynd conditioune Off trewis the wertu to foreȝet

5. Displaying the qualities of one of gentle birth; well-bred, noble in manners or conduct.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 84.
For wise he was and debonare, Hardy, kynd, courtes and fare Ib. 252, etc. c1475 Wall. i. 184.
For he was wys, rycht worthy, wicht and kynd a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1214.
Schir, I knaw be conquest thow art ane kynd man c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 33.
Is none of Scotland borne faithfull and kynde, Bot he … Dois favour thé 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 96.
Quha mycht gaynsay a lord so gentill and kynd 1560 Rolland Seven S. 71.
He was courtes, cumlie and richt kynd 1562-3 Winȝet I. 25/9.
Haifand affection to my kynd discipulis, and my glaid and godlye exercise sumtyme with thaim(b) c1460 Thewis Wysmen 332.
[They] makis thaim sone for to be frend To gar men vein at thai ar kinde(c) ?1438 Alex. ii. 1407.
[Bauderane] was courtes, weill taucht and keynd And wald haue Ideas to freynd

b. Kynde kny[ch]t, as a euphemism for the Devil (but conceivably misread for Hynd, q.v.). 1586 Glasg. Presb. Rec. in Chalmers Caled. (1890) VI. 662.
[Enquiries to be made about the names of certain crofts or pieces of ground which were consecrated to the Devil under the name of the] gudman or kynde kny[ch]t [pr. kuyt]

6. Of a benevolent, gentle or kindly disposition; generous, considerate, obliging. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 463.
Man, be thou kind, quhom for this pane he dreis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 348.
Sen I find ȝow sa kynd And with gude willis hes schawin me ȝour mynd 1567 G. Ball. 19.
We thanke our God baith kynde and liberall, His grace and mercy dois euer indure a1570-86 Maitl. F. cliii. 17.
Be kynd for hewin celestiall 1624 7th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 723/2.
I haive … hantid my lord duik of Lennox much and finds him soe kynd 1645 Baillie II. 295.
Remembering my service to your good kind Lady

b. Displaying kindness or friendship, esp. to (unto) another; also, to stand kind to (one).(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 643.
Mare kynd is none dume beist vpoun the ground To mannis flesche as other hors or hound c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiii. 3.
To God be hvmill and to thy freynd be kynd 1513 Doug. i. v. 134.
The quene … has kaucht Towart the Troianys a ful frendly mynd As on to thame tilbe bowsum and kynd 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. xxxvii.
Your lordschipe desiris ws to be kind to your lordschipe, as ye haue bene to ws in times bygane c1540 Lynd. Kitteis Conf. 65.
He bad me nocht to Christ be kynd a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii. 37.
That nobill king Quhilk ay wes kynd in help and supporting Off ȝow 1572 Sat. P. xxxi. 60.
Our God to vs salbe sa kynd, Thay sall us neuer deir a1605 Montg. Misc. P. lii. 20.
All nobill hairtis of nateur ar inclynd, Quhair they find constance, to be kynd 1642 Montgomery Mem. 294.
I baig at my lord to be keind and loving(2) 1584 Edinb. Test. XIV. 176 b.
Sa beand he do his deuetie and stand kynd to my wyf & barnes

7. Affectionate, loving. a1500 Henr. Fab. 497.
With his sweit bill he wald brek vs the breid: In all this warld wes thair ane kynder thing?

8. a. Exhibiting a noble or generous disposition. c1420 Ratis R. 623.
Cherytee … is louand in kind lawtee, Vncouatice, of gyftys free a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 363.
Thi counsale is convenabill, kynd and courtese

b. Of looks: Friendly; loving, fond. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1158.
With kynde contenance the renk couth thame rehete, Quhen thai war machit at mete c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 278.
I … with a kyind contynance kys his crynd chekis Ib. 434.
So keik I through my clokis, and castis kynd lukis To knychtis, and to cleirkis, and courtly personis