Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Kyn(e, Keyne, Kine, n. pl. [e.m.E. kine, kyne, kyen, keene, ME. kyn(e, kin(e etc., midl. and south. plur. of cow Kow n. In Sc. texts, only 17th c.] Cows. Also attrib. with -hydes and possess. with grase.(a) 1638 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I. 280.
569 kyne 1641 Acts V. 594/2.
Thrie scoir and ten head of kyn and ȝong guidis 1650 Maxwell Mem. I. 352.
When kine wer elfe-shote 1666 Dunkeld Presb. II. 66.
His wife … had been milking the kyne 1685 Depred. Clan Campbell 58.
8 great kine, 3 tuo year olds, three year olds, 4 calves(b) 1622 Orkney & Zetl. Test. I. 86 b.
Sex keyne pryce of the peace ourhead ix li. 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 654.
The dryvers and bringers of the forsaid keyne … take their keyne by another new way 1681 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 29 July.
Ten keyne and follou[ars]attrib. 1640–1 Kirkcudbright Min. Bk. 148.
The best kyne hydes, being rough, be sold for iiij libs. 1660 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 264.
Four barkit oxin and kyne hydis 1676 Conv. Burghs III. 671.
20 daiker of kyne hyds and 15 daiker of oxen hydspossess. 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 227.
Six kynis grase with ther followers to be hirded … with the said John … his awne kyne