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.
(Knave-barn,) Knawe-, Knafe-, Knaif-barn(e, n. Also: knaw-; knaf-, knaff-, knayf(f-. [North. ME. knavebarn (Cursor M.). Chiefly early.] = Knave-chyld,n. (a) c1420 Wynt. ii. 560.
The knawe [C. knayff] barnys sulde be put to dede Ib. 1497.
Off knaw [C. knayf] barnys thai walde sla mony The madynys thai norysyde Ib. vi. 1211.
[She] wes lychtare Off a knawe [C. knaff] barne befor day(b) a1400 Leg. S. xii. 31.
Gyf I consawyt haf this nycht A knafe barne Ib. 41.
Knaf barne Ib. 76.
Scho … sutely gert the King wene That schow with knaf barne had bene Ib. xxvi. 1106. 1474 Misc. Spald. C. V. 23.
Til ilke knaf barne to twenty pundis … and ilke madyn barne foure score of merkis … 1582 St. A. Kirk S. 500.
[He] confessis that his said dochter is … lichter … of ane knaif barn
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"Knave-barn n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 27 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/knave_barn>
