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.
Lance-staf(f, n. Also: lans(e-, lanc-, and -stauf, -stalf(f, plur. -staf(f)is, -staiffis, -stavis, -stawes. [Lance n.1; Staf(f n.] A piked staff; a kind of lance or pike. 1513 Doug. vii. xi. 56.
This Aventinus followis … Bair in handis lans stafis [Sm. lance stavis, R. lance staiffis] and burrel speris, And dangerus facheonys into staffis of tre 1513 Crim. Trials I. i. 96.
[Coming upon them in warlike manner with a] lance-staf 1535–6 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. VII. 104.
Ane speir price xxx d., ane lance staff price xxx d. 1554 Crim. Trials I. i. 371.
Bodin in feir of weir, with jakkis, … lance staffis, bowis, [etc.] 1570 Selkirk B. Ct. MS.
That they haif sufficient wappynis as … lance stauf and knappiskaw 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III. 107.
He … hes sindrie tymes riddin … to and fra in the cuntrie, … armit with jak, steilbonat, pistolet, sword, and lanse stalf 1585 Reg. Morton I. 145.
With euerie horse a … careage man with knapscall and lance staff 1596 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. 328.
Thair provest being to pas to Edinburgh to bring hame ane dossane of hagbuittis and xxiiij lancstawes 1615 Crim. Trials III. 362.
Streking of him with ane lance-stalff in the belly
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"Lance-staf n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 21 Nov 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/lance_staff>