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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.

Kindly, Kyndly, a. Also: kinde-, kynde-, kyind and -li(e, -lye, -lé. [ME. kindly, -le, kynd(e)-, kend-, western cundelich, OE. ᵹecyndelíc.]

1. Natural. a. In accordance with the natural or normal order of things or people; natural, normal (to, also with, a person or thing).(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 434.
For na fyr he mycht mak, The child na kyndly het cuth tak c1400 Troy-bk. i. 537.
Eclyps was neuir sene Agane twa kindely coursys to fall c1420 Wynt. v. 1984.
Hyr kyndly tyme of nede scho bade 1456 Hay II. 60/1.
For kyndely thing is, that quhen a ȝong king is sett on his hye hors, he is proud [etc.] 1535 Stewart 165.
Sen kyndlie is all man sum tyme to faill Ib. 59550.
Most kyndlie is … That euerie friend suld help vther in neid 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 529.
She departed in haist … nevir taking kyndlie rest quhill she come to the Armitaige 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 44/8.
That flattering filautia, quhilke is ouer kyndlie a seiknes to all mankynde Ib. 196/8.
For it becummis best (as kyndliest) euerie aage to smell of the auin qualitie 1596 Dalr. II. 51/10.
Quhat ȝour grace suffiris is kyndlie and nocht contrare kynde a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xl. 46.
Sen peircing pyks ar kyndlie with the rose 1635 Dickson Hebrews 32.
Christ, in his human nature, is as kyndlie a man, as any of the elect, having flesh, and blood, and bones(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 186.
Johne is … Borne of woman thru get kindly c1400 Troy-bk. i. 444.
Notht agane standand the sessoune Of kindely chele c1420 Ratis R. 1765.
That Lord is our al kindly thinge 1591 Crim. Trials. I. ii. 253.
In the birth of your last sone, … your naturall and kindlie payne [was] vnnaturallie cassin of yow 1635 Dickson Wr. 66.
Wonder not to find changes, for they are kindly Id. Psalms I. 282.
The kindly appetite of natural food Ib. II. 119.
It is a kindely mark and property of a godly person to be a lover of the good of all Gods children 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 499.
A carried bed is kindly to the Beloved, down in this lower house

b. Existing in, or proper to, a person, animal, plant, etc., or being of the character specified, by heredity or native propensity; innate, inborn.(1) 1375 Barb. iv. 740.
Arestotill, gif … [he] had followit his kyndly dedis, He had beyn … couatous 1405 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 200.
The saide Erl … of his kindeli gudelynes and cousynage … sal … suppouale the saide Schir Dauid c1420 Wynt. viii. 4286.
Chyldyr, that na kyndly skyll Had to deme betwyx gud and iwyll c1420 Ratis R. 1350.
Bot kindly inclynacioune Ore vengans pervert thi resone Ib. 1763.
For he disspendyt his resone In wycis agan kindly skill c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 456.
Folk … that … has na colouris for to cover thair awne kindly favtis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. Prol. 22.
The birdis … Melodiously makand thair kyndlie gleis 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 108/11.
The seiknessis of the mynde becumming als kyndlie to sum racis as these siknessis of the boddie 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii. 38.
The Prouest of Hammiltoun … Fand me with ky, ane kyndlie occupatioun a1578 Pitsc. I. 119/11.
This James haveand ane kyndlie luife to the Erle of Douglas … ponderit the caus in his awin mynd a1634 Forbes Rec. 522.
A birth … fitlie … representing the father and a fruit carryeing the kyndlie savour of the trie 1641 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I. 254.
A plant [prelacy] … which never took … with this kirk and kingdom as its kindly soil(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3199.
Thow cruell cocatrice, and kyndlie cocadrill 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 106/12.
[It is a] treu prouerbe that ane kyndlie auer uill neuer becumme a goode horse

2. a. Related, of one's kindred. b. Natural because of relationship by blood.Cf. Kind a. 2 c.a. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. cxii. 30.
Fra tyme he gat the purs in hand He kyndlie cousing callit me 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. Prol. 38.
Cumand to the weir Contrair thair conscience and their kyndlie freindis Ib. 545.
Kyndlie cusines 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. fol. 4 b.
Thair may no thing be Lykned to ane trew kyndlie freindeb. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2938.
For inwart wo thay gaue ane hiddeous cry For kindlie lufe and fatherlie pietie 1567 Sat. P. iv. 6.
Traisting with ane … Quha was the ruite quhair of I did spring, In honour to liue be kyndelie allyance

3. Native, belonging by birth or origin: native-born, true-born, rightful (ruler, subject, etc.); (the place) of one's origin; born in the place.(1) 1513 Doug. ii. v. 84; Ib. ix. v. 50, xi. vi. 95.
In thi keping committis Troy, but les, Hir kyndly goddis clepit Penates 1533 Bell. Livy I. 56/16.
Be hortacioun of thare native & kyndelie nacioun 1560 Rolland Seven S. 580.
Als sone thay come vnto thair kyndlie coist. Doun drew thair saills 1562-3 Winȝet I. 49/7.
[I] wes expellit and schott out of that my kindly toun 1572 Sat. P. xxx. 201.
King Roboam … tynt his kyndlie trybes ten 1575 Reg. Privy C. II. 464.
[They] manassit and compellit thame to renunce him thair kyndlie maister, and hald of thame c1590 Fowler I. 105/43.
To whome, alace, was interdyte thair kyndlie natiwe grawe 1596 Dalr. I. 318/5.
His cuntrey, thoch kyndly, ȝit he left it 1609 Crim. Trials III. 15.
Seing my race has bene tenne hundreth yeeris kyndlie Scottis men, vnder the Kinges of Scotland Ib. 17.
[Makconneil of Kintyre:] All my kyndlie men hes ressaued me most glaidlie 1616 Orkney & Shetl. Sheriff Ct. 61.
She … desyrit him [the devil] to put thir new reularis away, that the kyndly countrey peiple micht rewle 1617 Welcome to K. James 110 in Fugitive Poetry I.
Thou art our Lord, our kyndlie King, our Prince a1652 Dickson Psalms III. 328.
To deal with the simple people, … as with his kindly subjects, disciples or children c 1648–60 Guthry Memoirs (1747) 40.
I speak to you as a kindly Scotsman(2) 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 234.]
[That he and his foirbeeris hes beine maist kyndlie to this burgh and hes ever regairdit the weill and libertie of the samin a1652 Dickson Psalms III. 302.
The place where God is not worshipped, should be … a strang land unto His people, and no place kindely or comfortable unto us 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 157.
An aparition … desired [her] … to call him Simon, for that name was almost worn out of the famely, and it was a kindly native name to the Frasers

b. Lawfully born, legitimate (child). 1531 Bell. Boece I. lvii.
The wemen thocht thair barnis war not tender or kindly to thaim [L. legitimas proles] bot gif thay war nurist als weill with the milk of thair breist [etc.]

4. Of a possession, right, etc.: Belonging to one by right of birth, descent or inheritance; hereditary. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 53/16.
Be this way, ȝe may sauff the bairnis of Fergus vndefraudit of thair kyndlie heretage Ib. II. 198/28.
[He] send his ambassatouris … , desyring to be restorit to Northumberland, quhilk pertenit to him be kyndly heretage 1562 Montg. Mem. 191.
The saidis noble … lorde … being myndit neuer to defraude the saidis Thomas of his kyndlie inheritance, … hes delyuerit to the said Robert his precept of fauouris, … direct to his bailleis in that part, chargeing them to west and seis the saidis Thomas in the saidis landis 1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 61.
Our cause is just, the king hes kyndly richt 1609 Crim. Trials III. 15.
[Makconeill of Kintyre:] Albeet I was xij ȝeires in waird and all my kyndlie landis disponed to strangeres 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 511.
The devil hath … bought us out of our kindly heritage 1640-1 Kirkcudbright Min. Bk. 78.
Whereas Johne Maxwell … hes represented to us his kyndlie interest to the Abbacie of Dundrennan, bothe as heritor of a great pairt of the lands and teinds of a pairt of the patrimonie thairof, and as uplifter and feuar of the rest of the samen Ib.
We doe not love to wrong onie man in thair ryght or kyndlie possessione 16.. Herries Mem. 61.
Erskin … pretended the same [title of Earl of Marr] as kindlie to his family

5. Applied to the members of a class of tenants, also tacksmen of teinds, who claimed a prescriptive right to the tenancy or tack, in consequence of its long continued occupation by the present occupier and his ancestors. Chiefly kindly tenant (also possessour etc.), kindly takisman.For the orig. meaning, appar. ‘native, belonging by birth or origin’ (senses 3 and 4 above), cf. Kind-born a., Kind a. 3 and Native a., and the freq. coupling with ald and native (but cf. also Kindnes n. 2 c). Uncommon before c 1560 when, esp. in connection with the feuing of church lands, it becomes more common. The earliest quotations all refer to the southern part of the country, including the south-west (cf. Kindnes n. 2).The title of a kindly tenant or ‘rentaller’ was constituted merely by his enrolment as such in the landlord's rental-book or by a formal lease to this effect received from the landlord: see Rental n. and v., and Rentaller n. Such a ‘rental’ was commonly renewed to the successor, either during the lifetime of the previous occupier, the latter ‘broukand for his time’, or on the latter's death. According to Craig (i. vii. 19), the precise rules as to the endurance of ‘rental’ rights varied from one estate to another; certainly it appears that it was only in the course of the 17th c. that these came to be at all clearly defined (see the authorities listed below and decisions cited by them). There are also a number of instances of the conveyance of the ‘kindness’ (Kindnes n. 2) or ‘kindly’ rights to a tenancy (which freq. included, in addition to a certain degree of security of tenure, low or favourable terms of let) from the lineal successor to some other.Among the many writings on rentals and kindly tenants, see Craig Jus Feudale i. vii. 19, i. xi. 26, Stair Inst. ii. ix. 15–21, Erskine Inst. ii. vi. 37–38, J. Carmont The King's Kindlie Tenants of Lochmaben in Jurid. Rev. XXI. 323–337, and Encycl. Laws Scotl. (Green, Edinb., 1933) XIV. 383–4.(1) 1507 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 709.
That incaise I or my airis sall happin to redeim the said landis of Castelhill [of Durisdeer] … that the said Johne hes in assedatioun … that I sall resseawe the said Johne and his airis and successouris kyndlie tennentis to the said landis … wther nyntene ȝeiris, sa fra nyntein to nyntein perpetuallie for the ȝeirlie payment contenit in the assedatioun and obligatioun that thay suld hawe efter the lowsing togidder with tuentie crounis of gersum for ewerie nyntene ȝeire 1546 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1888–90) New Ser. I. 52.
Heir lyis … Johne Deinis, quha vas tenant kyndlie of Havik Miln and slan in debait of his nichtbouris geir 1556–7 Reg. Soltre 120.
The lardis of Estir Vemis hes beyn ald and kyndle tenentis to ws 1561 Irvine Mun. II. 12.
The quhilk day the provest balyeis counsell and comonitie of the Burght of Irwin all in ane voce hais interit rentallit admittit and rasavit Hew Kyill sone and aire to umquhile Thamas Kyill burges of the foirsaid burght lauchfull kyndlie and just tennand of lyne and bluid in and to the twenty schilling land of Gallowmur of auld extent 1563 Acts II. 540/1.
That na kyndlie lauchfull possessour tennent or occupyar of ony of the saidis kirk landis be removit fra thair kyndlie rowme … be the allegeit fewaris 1565–6 Reg. Privy C. I. 432.
Johnne Carrutheris … hes peciabillie broukit … the landis of Mekill Daltoun … as native and kyndlie tenentis of the same past memor of man Ib.
Gif the King and Quenis majesteis … sall permit this preparative of removing of kyndlie tenentis to cum in the Bordouris, it salbe far aganis the commounweill 1571–2 Ib. II. 110.
Consenting to the few of the landis and rowmes … quhilkis ar possessit be auld and kyndlie rentallit tenentis 1576 Ib. 542.
To convene upoun the ground of the saidis landis [of Canonby] and tak … inquisitioun quha wer the auld kyndlie tenentis and possessouris of the same, and gif ony of thame beis fund removit … thairfra, that the saidis commendatare and pryour mak new securitie to them, be rentall or utherwayis 1576-7 Rec. Earld. Orkn. 294.
[Lord Robert Stewart ... and Lord Henrie Stewart ... grant a nineteen years' tack to Olipheir Sinclair, son of the deceased Edward Sinclair of Strome] takkisman and kyndlie tennent and possessour of the landis eftir following 1578 Acts III. 112/2.
The auld kyndlie possesouris of the landis and baronie of … Monymusk 1579 Ib. 165/1.
That the saidis landis being sett to him in few be the bischop of Dumblane he wald not faill … to put out the kyndlie and natiue tennentis of the saidis landis (quhilk is not of veritie) 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 496.
[The principal defendant (the landlord) has] put him furth of his said steding, he being kyndlie mailler and possessoure thairof 1583 Ib. 585.
His fader and he hes peceablie … josit thrie quarteris of the landis of Dodrig … as kyndlie tennentis thairof, being kirkland, be the space of xxxvi yeiris bypast and mair, having maid … expenssis in bigging of duelling houssis thairin 1596 Misc. Spottisw. S. II. 375.
His maiesteis haill auld annexit propertie within the countreis of … Kyntyris … sall remane still with the said Angus as kyndlie tennent and possessour thairof 15.. Exch. R. XVII. 650.
Rentall of the Ilis, in the quhilk the landis ar sett to the auld possessouris quhairbe it is easie to knaw the auld kyndlie tenentis 1610 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 156.
[This act was practically a lease to the widow as] kyndlie tennent & occupiar [for five years] 1618 Boyd Fam. P. No. 106 (24 June).
Considering that Thomas Boyde of Pynkill and his predicessors hes bene native and Kyndelie tennentis and takismen to me and my predicessoris 1623 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 90.
To … deliver to the said Andro Smith ane sufficient rentall receiveing him and his aires kindlie tennents to somickel of the lands [etc.] … as he presentlie possesses 1626 Prot. Bk. D. Heart in Old-lore Misc. VIII. 116.
[9 pennyland of Grundwatter and quoy thereof, called Skelbuster, the] tak and kyndnes [of which had been] assigned and disponed [to Mr. Aitkin by Robert Bannatyne, sometime] kyndlie tenant [of the same] a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 232. 1641 Acts V. 573/1.
The kyndlie possessoures of the samene vdall landis [of Orkney] 1641 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 283.
Entress silver and kyndnes, … Entress of a kyndlie tennent ordinarlie tuentie pundis, of ane unkyndlie, double or triple thairof 1656 Soc. Ant. LXII. 274.]
[Agreement between James Duncan of Ratho and John Broun younger that, as John and his father, who had been set the lands and mill of Gorgie for his lifetime and two nineteen years thereafter, have been kyndlie tenants and possessors to the granter and his father these many years bygone, the said James, being unwilling to remove them [etc.] 1662 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 237.
The supplicants [kinsfolk and friends of McLean of Duart], … their lands and possessions … , whereof they have bein kyndlie tenents these 2 or 300 years bypast 1674 Highland P. I. 277.
That such of the tenants and kindly possessors [in Duart] as takes land of the Earl of Argyll … be received into his lordship's protection and be accepted kindly of by him 1690 Acts IX. 211/1.
The supplication given in … be their majesties kindely tennents in the four towns of Lochmaben shewing the petitioners and their predecessors haveing for severall generations bypast been kindly tennents to their majesties predecessors in the lands of the forsaids four towns Ib.
Albeit they be but kindly tennents, and that never any of them or their predecessors had any infeftment or pretence of heretage in the land but the benefite of being kindly tennents allennerly 1691 Murray Early B. Organ. II. 575.
[In 1691 Andrew Kennedy, burgess of Ayr, was kindly tenant and possessor of the 40s. lands of old extent of Crawisland and Castlehill lying within the Burrowfield] 1681 Stair Inst. ii. ix. 15.]
[A rental is a tack set to kindly tenants, which are the successors of the ancient possessors, or those who are received by the heritor with the like privilege as if they were ancient possessors(2) 1583–4 Reg. Privy C. III. 642.
Thai have bene kyndlie tennentis and takismen to the commendatar … of Dunfermling of all and sindrie the teind schaves, small teinds [etc.] … thir divers yeiris bygane, and hes presentlie takis thairof for yeiris yit to rin 1599 Reg. Great S. 303/2.
The personage … of Kirkwrde … hes appertenit … to umquhile Mr James Scott … his sone, and to thair predecessouris, as kyndlie takismen of the samyn past memorie of all men for payment … of [£50] … for the personage dewtie 1611 Lothian Dioc. Synod 111.
He and his predicessoris heritoris of thrie pendicles of the Mans of Arnistoun … hes beine kyndlie takisman of the personage and vicarage teyndis thairof 1612 Douglas Corr. 43.
It hath bene … in vs … a verie olde song, to wishe the kyndlie takesman, at the expireing of their tackes … to be to all others preferred

b. Maist kyndly (= best entitled) tenant. 1565–6 Reg. Privy C. I. 428.
Now the commendatare of the said abbay [of Dunfermline, intends] to set the haill landis and lordschip thairof to the maist kyndlie tenentis of the same 1583 Ib. III. 593.
To quhom the compliner aucht to succeid as maist native and kyndlie tennent thairto [the halflands of Gervestand of Auchtermuchty], albeit that Richart Stirk, the secund brothers oy … wes rentalit thairin

c. Having the right of a ‘kindly’ occupier to the lands etc. specified. 1536 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 457.
[The Abbot of Kilwinning sets the abbacy to the Provost of Trinity College, but reserves] all and sindry rentaling and assedaciounis making [of the abbey lands, the abbot] settand … to the nerrest of kin and kyndliest that hes the landis now in assedacioun or rentale 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III. 83.
That the custody of the said Castell [of Lochmaben] is ane several office, having feis and dewiteis appropriat thairto of lang tyme, to the quhilk I am maist kyndlie, as may appeir alsweill be diverse takis [etc.] 1587 Lennox Mun. 331.
Haveing tryit the said Thomas to be kyndlie to the forsaid myln 1588 Maxwell Mem. II. 162.
Ane puir man … quhaa is kyndlie to ane pice of ȝour lordshippis landis1596 Wamphray Baron Ct. 9 Oct.

d. Of lands, tacks, etc.: Belonging to a person as the ‘kindly’ occupier. Espec. kindly rowm, steding or possessioun. (1)  1540 Wigtownshire Chart. 66.
Thairfor that ye suffer this gentleman bruk his kyndle steding quhilk is ryt able to do service to us and to yor place and dasist fra sik process as ye led upone him and his tennets taking contentatioune of him resonably for the tyme bigane as efferis and mak him and his said spous new takkis of the said steding 1540 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 491.
[The abbot (of Glenluce)] to set thair kyndly stedingis to thame selffis, thai … payand use and wont 1565–6 Reg. Privy C. I. 428.
The commendatare [of Dunfermline] … is of mynd to set the saidis landis and myln, his kyndlie rowmes, to the said Kathrene Halkheid … and thairthrow to debar him fra his rycht and kyndlie rowmes 1567 Prot. Bk. G. Grote (S.R.S.) 72.
[Certain lands, which pertained to his father in] kyndlie stedingis 1568 Haddington Corr. 271.
Our Castell of Dumbartane, his kyndlie hous, pertenyng to him in tak, as maist worthie kepir thairof 1569 Reg. Privy C. II. 10.
Donald Gormesoun [of Skye] … [to] use the samyn [lands] … as his heretage and kyndlie rowmes, conforme to his rychttis and titillis thairof 1578–9 Ib. III. 81.
How meikle everie ane of they principale thevis [in the Debateable Lands] … clames … to be kyndlie steding to thame Ib. 84.
Nathing regairding the kyndlie takis of my foirbearis, with my awin 1581 Ib. 391.
The saidis fischingis [of Innerspey] ar kyndlie rowme and possessioun to the said James and his predicessouris, quhairof thay have had heritable infeftment abone the space of twenty-twa yeris bypast 1583 Ib. 585.
[He] come to the ground of the said complineris kyndlie steiding, and thair … dang his servandis 1606 Edinb. Test. XLII. 101 b.
[To] his eldest sone all the rest of the kyndlie land … left … be vmquhile Alexander Steidman fader to the said William 1607 Acts IV. 400/1.
Except the teyndis personage and vicarage of the kirkis of Home [etc.] … being the auld kyndlie possessionis of the hous of Home 1612 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 205.
Your myll and maynes, … since he herd yow [sc. Murray of Lochmaben] wer to bestow itt wpon Mr Robert, he hes vttered a sort of contrie clayme to itt and grudged with Mr Robert for taking his kyndlie rowme Ib.
He hes principall entries in thaes landes [sc. of Lochmaben], be clayme of his kyndlie possessioun, as thaes peopill do esteam itt and … doeth … stryue to keip thaes landes att the meinest rate he can c1650 Spalding I. 3.
His kyn … of Clanchattan … beginis to call to mynd how James erll of Moray thair maister had cassin them out of thair kyndlie possessions quhilk, past memorie of man, their predicessoris and they had keipit, for small deutie bot for thair faithfull seruice(2) 1577 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I. 58.
That euery man sall haif … ane nyntein yeir tak … contenand the samyn prouisionis quhairby the saids scairis salbe specialie estemeit to thame as kyndele c 1630 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 190.
To decerne to whome those lands of the Rinnis [of Islay] were most kindlie

e. (A claim) by ‘kindly’ or prescriptive right. 1606 Burnie Kirk-b. xix. 36.
The kyndely claime by possession that some cleaues to (that they will haue so done old that the antiquitie is forgot)

f. Kyndly (= hereditary) baillie. 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 697.
Lyke as the said umquhile Erll [of Lennox], his guidsire, grandsire, foirgrandsire and all utheris his forbearis wer kyndlie baillies of the samyn [regality of Glasgow]

6. Of persons: Displaying kindness, well-disposed (to (till) another). Of actions, etc. : Generous, friendly, kind.(1) 1509 Montg. Mem. 73.
[They] sall … ilkane tak vtheris be the handis, and stand afald and kyndlie till otheris(2) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7332.
Schir ȝe haue done to me ane kindelie thing 1594 James VI in Melvill 321.
Giff we be aydit be your kyndlie helpe and promised releiff 1611 Breadalbane Lett. (Reg. H.) 2 Sept.
I ressauet ȝour kyndlie letter … ȝisternicht