Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Linin, -ing, Linnin, -ing, Lenyn(e, -ing, a. and n. Also: linine, -en, -oun, lynyn(e, -ine, -en(e; lineing, -yng, lyn(e)ing, -yng, lyineing; linnen, lynnyn(e, -en(n, -an; linnyng, lynning, -yng, -ein; leny(ī)ng, -ene, -eine. [ME. and e.m.E. linen (13th c.), lynen, -yn, -on, lynnen (13th c.), -yn, linnen, e.m.E. lynnynge (1535), -ing, lenyn (1566), OE. línen, lnnen adj. made of flax (OE. lín Line n.¹).Some of the spellings seem to represent the type with the orig. long vowel. The frequent spellings with -ing, -yng (and perh. also those with -ein, -ene) are due to confusion with the ending of verbal nouns.]For some additional examples, see Bleche v., Blecher, -ing, -it.

A. adj. 1. Made of spun or woven flax, linen.In a few instances it seems doubtful whether this or an attrib. use of Lining vbl. n.¹ 1 was intended.a. Qualifying various nouns (as thread, yarn, kinds of cloth). Bute MS. fol. 171 in 14.. Acts I. 305/2.
Of a hundreth pund of lynyn threde a half peny 1478–9 Prestwick B. Rec. 28.
viij here of small lynyn ȝarne 1513 Edinb. Hammermen 81.
For lynyne fusteane to it quhar it misterit … xij d. 1560 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV. 38.
Ane goun of lynning gray 1575 Edinb. Test. III. 360 b.
Ane pece of ȝallow lynning freis … price of the eln x s. 1580 Treas. Acc. MS. 18.
Lynnyng bukrem to the nekkis and craigis [of gowns] 1599 Glasgow Weavers 49.
Ather with lining or wollen or ony kynd of work 1678 Coll. Ayr & W. IV. 146.
For ane … spanill of linine washen yarne c 1680 Bk. Dunvegan I. 194.
Lyning stof an ell £2. 18. 0.

b. Linen (cloth).(a) 1500 Treas. Acc. II. 20.
For lynyne clath to the samyn [doublet of satin] iij s. 1503 Ib. 204.
For … satin to be ane steikit doublat to the King, … for lynyne claith tua ply to it Ib. 232. 1629 Maxwell Mem. II. 204.
The transporters of linine cloth furth of the countrey 1644 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 50.
Certane merchand commodities consisting of linoun and wollen cloath(b) 1549 Edinb. Hammermen 180.
Giffin for lyning clayth to be alter towellis 1605 Conv. Burghs II. 203.
Thair is mekill mair claithe wowin and lyning maid … nor in the said fre burrowis 1622-6 Bisset II. 360/18.
Scho weir … ane quhyte waill of lyning claytht over hir schulderis(c) 1589 Exch. R. XXII. 73.
To James Bog in the ailsellar tuelf elnis lining claith for the service of his office hous 1632 Misc. Spald. C. V. 220.
The haill tenentis … to pay … thair haill custom lining clothe 1690 Newport Glasgow Customs 15.
Thre fardells of lining cloath(d) 1454–5 Edinb. Chart. 80.
As wyne, sape, irne, lynnyn clayth, lynt [etc.] 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 52.
For … lynnyn claith to be ane sark [etc.] Ib. 64, 1503 Ib. 210; etc. 1587 Carmichael Etym. 6.
Sindon, lawn or fine linnen claith 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 218.
Untill she should obtaine anie part … of foule linnen cloth that had appertained to the Kinges majestie 1693 Acts IX. 312/2.
The bleetching of any linnen cloath whatsomever with lyme(e) 1477 Edinb. Chart. 141.
The merket of all cottone claith … and al lynnyng claith 1478 Acta Aud. 82/1. 1535 Stewart 36357.
In lynnyng clayth, als quhit as ony milk, Tha wand his cors 1560 Admir. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 182.
Ane bahuif with small lynnyng claith 1561 Reg. Privy C. I. 172.
Toylis, quhilk is callit lynnyng clayth in oure language 1570–1 Canongate Ct. Bk. 299.
Eird and stane quhilkis with the seill of ane of the saidis baillies wes seillit in lynning claith a1578 Pitsc. I. 258/12.(f) 1502 Acta Conc. MS. XII. 83 b.
Thre curches of small linnyng clath, the price of the pece v s. 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 318.
Linning cloth: canves called Frenche canves and linning broad for boord claithis … , callicoe course … , cambrick … , lawnes … , damask [etc.] 1640 Brechin Test. V. 291.
Four ellis of ellbraid linning cloath 1692 Conv. Burghs IV. 148.
For inhaunceing the trade of linning cloath(g) a1400 Leg. S. vii. 59.
Na claths of sylk he wald nocht were, Bot lenyne clath he oysit ay 1596 Treas. Acc. MS. (1595–7) 82.
Ten elnis of lenyng clayth

2. a. (A) lynyn clath(e (claith, cloth), a piece of linen cloth, an article of linen. a1400 Leg. S. xi. 80.
Criste … fra hyme a lynyne clath tuk thare 1456 Hay II. 124/10.
Ger hete a lynyn clathe c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark xiv. 51.
A young man clethit with a lynnyne clathe on the baire 1551 Hamilton Cat. 192.
The barne that is baptizit is cled with ane quhite lynning claith callit ane cude 1597 P. Lowe Chyrurgerie (1634) 367.
Couer it with a linnen cloth

b. Lynnyn clathis (clai(thi)s, clothis etc.): Linen clothes, linen garments; also, undergarments, and as a dress of repentance; articles or pieces of linen. = B 2, 2 b.(1) 1375 Barb. xiii. 422 (E).
For thai wele ner all nakyt wer Or lynnyn clathys [C. lynyng clothis] had but mar ?1438 Alex. ii. 10207.
Thair lynning claithis with blude and sueit … war all maid weit 1531 Bell. Boece II. 148.
To stand in arrayit battall, with linnin claithis above thair bodyis 1591 Edinb. Test. XXII. 356.
Hir haill bak claythtis, lynning and wollin 1593 Acts IV. 43/1.
Thevis … sumtymes disagysit with fals bairdis or in lynning claithis or in fuillis garmentis 1595 Culross I. 133.
Sic es men gawing [sic in pr.] in lyning claths feinȝeng thame to be mad 1624 Brechin Test. IV. 139.
The said defunctis heidgeir & linninge cleythis(2) 1486 Misc. Spald. C. V. 30.
That he sal cum in his lynnyne clathis … bair fute and bair heid, with a lous goune 1490 Acta Conc. I. 153/1.
[To] cum … in thair lyning clais 1542 Soc. Ant. II. 391.
John Scharp [etc.] … to pas in their lenyn claythis … and ask the bailȝes forgifnes 1557 Crim. Trials I. i. 399. 1570 Leslie 82.
The principallis of the trubillis come in lyning claythis with … widdyis about thair neckis 1593 S. Leith Rec. i. 1603 Dundonald Par. Rec. 33.
George Wricht, … to stand severall Sondayes, twa in his lyning claithis … at the kirk end Ib. 236. 1607 Paterson Ayr & Wigt. I. 95.
To stand at the cross and mak her repentance in her linning clothes 1620 Dumbarton Kirk S. i.
In lynnen clothes(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 224.
Ane vthir sayis, ‘I se him want ane sark; I reid ȝow, cummer. tak in your lynning clais’ 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 114.
And thair flesche thair offerit to sell to be coverit with fair lynning clayths 1530 Ib. II. 29.
That na maner of parsonis … by ony auld clais, wou or lynnyn [etc.] a1538 Abell 97² b.
Becaus thai had na harnes thai put quhit lynyng clathis abone & rycht sua on long staffis in sted of baneris Ib. 111 a.
Syne be lynnyng clathis he passit awa downe at ane windo 1568 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun (S.R.S.) 160.
To wes his lynnyng claithis and schetis 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 54.
That the saids Issobell Barcar and Jonett Galt wesche the lynning claythis of the remanent at the brig 1593 Brechin Test. I. 108.
Ane pair of auld plaidis with her lyineing cleithes 1624 Dumfries Test. I a. 20 b.
I live … to Elizabeth Carmecheall … thrie buskingis of lining claithis to hir heid 1636 Justiciary Cases I. 272.
Steilling and away taking of certane lynning clothes

B. n. 1. Linen, cloth woven from flax. b. An article or piece of linen.(a) 1499 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 100.
For the vrangvis haldyn of a wob of lynene 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 216.
For lxxij elne Bertane lynyn to be sex pair of schetis 1687 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 202.
The act … anent the burying of persones … with Scots linen 1697 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 167.
For bliching 43 ells linin at 2s. 6d. the ell(b) ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 521.
Thi body … wynd in lynyng 1561 Invent Q. Mary 24.
Aucht serviottis of vnhemmit great lyning 1601 Kirkcudbright B. Rec. I. 402. 1672 Foulis Acc. Bk. 10.
The bed, chairs and bed lyning and other things bought from him(c) 1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI 28 Feb.
For xij ellis of lining to be buird claithes and schirueittis 1615 Red Bk. Grandtully I. xxvi.
[To] remoue … nathing … except … bedding of woll and linyng 1668 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 473.
That no persone … cary any lining or wollen or any uther to be wrought without the said regalitie 1678 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 299.
Of good Dornick lining(d) 1483 Acta Aud. 112*/1.
xx^ti elne of small lynnyn price xl s. a 1500 Coll. St. Salvator 157.
Fyve toualis of braid claith and tua of lynnyn 1513 Doug. x. xiii. 68.
Eneas … Throw gyrd hys targe platyt thrys with steill And throw the cowchit lynnyn [R. lynnyng] euery deill(e) 1596 Dalr. I. 93/25.
Of linnine … thay maid wyd sarkis with mony bosumis 1665-76 Lauder Jrnl. 10.
Never to suffer any linnen only wooll to come neirest their skine(f) 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 177.
For ane elne of smal lynnyng to be ane amyt 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 214.
The clayth merket of lynnyng and wollin now being aboue the tolbuth 1556 Peebles B. Rec. I. 234. 1597 Edinb. Test. XXX. 267.
Ten elnis of erische lynning 1622 Black Bk. Taymouth 362.(g) 1502 Acta Conc. MS. XII. 83 b.
Ane burd clath of linnyng, the price ij s. 1590 Crim. Trials I. ii. 199.
The said Cristaine … haid provydeit thre quarteris of fine linning claithe for the picturis, … and the linning to be bound about the said picturis 1652 Thanes of Cawdor 310.
For sevein ells linning to be winding scheitt a1689 Cleland Poems 26.(h) 1523 Wigtown B. Ct. 141 b.
Ane stik of lenying 1533 Ib. 294 a.
Lenene ? 1525 Carnwath Baron Ct. (ed.) 37.
Steling of … iiij ellis of gret hardin lenyng 1541 Prestwick B. Rec. 57.
Ane wob of lenyn 1568 Waus Corr. 42.
Lening 1595 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 4 b.
Leneine 1601 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 184.
Ane litill bodie … cled in quhyt lening lyk a sarkb. c1650 Spalding I. 39.
His [the Bishop of Moray's] rotchet whiche is ane whyte lyning or lavne drawin on abone his cot

2. plur. Linen cloth, napery and clothing, collectively; linen things, linens. b. Linen garments; also, garments normally made of linen, undergarments; also, these as a dress of repentance. = A 2 b.Also ? misread as Lineis.(1) 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 200.
Na hewit Scottis braid clayth except lynnyngis 1579 Edinb. Test. VII. 272 b.
xxij quhyt lynningis for wommanis cloikis or wyliecottis c 1633 Buccleuch Mun. II. 280.
Off linningis in ane littill tronk, … , Sax plain hand cursches 1652 Edinb. Test. LXVI. 4 b.
In his duelling house … his haill liniuges estimat all to xvj lib. 1662 Crim. Trials III. 604.
The Qwein of Fearrie is brawlie clothed in whyt linens 1662 Carstairs Lett. 93.
Send me some linnings to Edinburgh 1675 Coltness Coll. 355.
That when her body should be wrapped in sheir-cloth, they should in no case suffer her linnings to be taken of 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 269.
For the … publick washing of linnings 1688 Peebles B. Rec. II. 125.
I wes coming alongst the Old Toune bridge to fetch ane pair of linens of my fathers from Thomas Hope 1694 Inchmahome Pr. 162.
My lord's linnings … , of new linning shirts [etc.](2) 1605 Murray Early B. Organ. I. 248.
To stand in her lynings at the Cross on market days 1628 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 68.
[To] mak thair public repentance in linningis upone the piller 1659 S. Ronaldshay 27.
[Adulterers are humbled] in linenyis

3. attrib. Made or consisting of linen cloth.(a) 1500 Treas. Acc. II. 21.
For iiij pair of lynyne sokkis to the King ij s. viij d. 1643 Murray Early B. Organ. II. 129.
Ane stuf wob and ane lynen wob in the handis of George Cathcart, wobster(b) 1507 Edinb. B. Ct. Bk. 6.
A pair of lyning schettis 1546 Stirling B. Rec. I. 45.
Ane lyning sark sewit with silk 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 26 Sept.
Tua cours lineing boordclothis for the servandis 1647 Misc. Bann. C. II. 273.
Her haill abulȝements, both lining and wolline 1678 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 26 May.
Ane lyning boord cloath and napperie conforme(c) 1496 Acta Conc. II. 39.
In a litil lynnyn purse 1525 Misc. Bann. C. III. 110.
I leife to Jhone Boide the best pece of ane lynnein vobe 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 223.
For wesching of the lynnenn naipre(d) 1531 Bell. Boece II. 511.
Spulyeit of all his claithis saif onely ane linnin curche to hid his privat memberis(e) 1513 Doug. xii. iii. 17.
With lynnyng valis or lyke apronys lycht Thai war arrayt 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II. 174.
Ane alde rifin lynning ruif that hang in the chapell chawmer 1567 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun (S.R.S.) 156.
The money was offered in a lynnyng clout 1612 Dunblane Test. III. 189.
ix pair scheittis lynning and harne(f) 1581 Brechin Test. I. 47.
Ane dowssone of linning seruittis 1609 Garden Garden 43.
[To] carrie … Vpon his launce his linning shirt 1616 Glasgow Weavers 54.
For spilling … of ane small linning wob, in casting round hardin yearine in the midis thairof 1619 Falkirk Par. Rec. I. 13.
[He should] pass to the kirk dore in his quhyt linninge shertis 1664 Carstairs Lett. 108.
Some linning socks