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 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mint, v. Also: minte, mynt; ment. P.t. and p.p. mintit etc., also mynt(e. [ME. minte, mynte, western and southern munten, p.t. minte, mynt, also mintid (14–15th c.), western munt, south-eastern mente, p.p. mint, mynt, western and southern i)munt, OE. myntan wk. vb.From the 16th c. only north. and (chiefly) Sc.]

1. tr. To address oneself, to make an attempt, to attempt, try, strive; to venture, dare (to do something).Also with ellipsis of the infin.(1) a1400 Leg. S. ix. 184.
Full mony thane rapis hynte & to draw done the ydole mynte a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1328.
And then to mend we may do nocht bot minte 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 182.
The said Dauid … hes mynted and schawyn his deligence to drown hyr in to ane watter upon the nycht 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xli. 48.
Tak tent quha sic thingis dois begin And with sic matteris mynts to mell 1596 Dalr. II. 193/22.
The Erle of Surrie … minted nocht to cum an inche ner vs 1599 Rollock Wks. I. 439.
He can not sa meikill as anis mint to rise up Ib. 383, 439. 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
What if a man would but minte to burye a body in the presence chamber of a prince? 1614 Melrose P. 176.
Thay haue minted twyse to kill him 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS. 25 May.
For feir that … scho perreisch hir self in the watter … as scho hes myntit diuers tymeis to haue done c1616 Hume Orthog. 15. 1626 Garden Worthies 75.
Few will mint to say so much, non more 1604-31 Craig v. 9.
Woe is mee if I mint To forge floods from the flint 1628 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. II. 597.
How durst they presoome or mint to tak ordour with any of his servants 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 368. 1639 Baillie I. 123; 1637 Ib. 2, 1638 Ib. 100, 1639 Ib. 153, etc. 1638 Henderson Serm. 180.
That whilk Gods casts down … man is over pert to mint to set it up again, let be to do it c1650 Spalding I. 123. Ib. II. 418.
Not mynting to follow the enemy a1651 Calderwood III. 592. 1675 Sel. Biog. II. 135.
Thinking I was minting to enter in at the strait gate 1679 J. Somerville Mem. II. 194 n.
Without him none would mint to treat 1683 Brodie Diary 476.
I minted to exhort them to peacablenes, &c.(b) c 1660 Carstairs Lett. 164.
Your willingness to help any that's bot menting to seek God(2) a1500 Peblis to Play 33.
I dar nocht … Amang ȝou merchandis my erandis do Marie I sall anis mynt Stand of far and keik thaim to a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 349 (W).
Quhillis minting, quhillis stinting, My purpose changit oft

b. To set out, purpose, intend, mean (to do something).Also with ellipsis of the infin.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi. 300.
That coste of it … That he vend vele he had tynte & thar-fore to sla men had mynte 1607 Dundonald Par. Rec. 126.
Hew Houssoun … grantit he mintit to do sua bot that he steyit c1610 Melville Mem. 81.
I vsed gret moyens to get sur knawlege gene my L. James Pryour of Sanctandrowes minted to mak hym self K. 1633 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 90.
Jesus is looking up that water and minting to dwell amongst them 1684 Brodie Diary 483.
I minted to worship God in the morning bot was weatherbeaten 1697 Cromarty Corr. I. 127.
My son continows ill of his grauill … I hau minted twys to goe see him(2) a1400 Leg. S. xxxii. 245.
Bot nocht to do as thai had mynt Bot vtrely thare trawale tynt 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 50.
Ne went it [the stone] all the space as he dyd mynt

c. To address oneself, make a move (to go), to set off; also, to venture.With ellipsis of the infinitive verb of motion.(1) a1568 Bann. MS. 158 a/41.
Quhen his maister cryis ‘hors’, and to the fair will mynt c1590 J. Stewart 18/119.
Throch dens and dails maist priuelie scho mints 1600-1610 Melvill 6.
I durst na wayes waver or mint away bot stand stedfast 1638 Johnston Diary I. 317.
Quhen thou minted to bed, thy sister begoud to cry 1635 Dickson Wr. 135.
We are like Peter who minted to his master on the water(2) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 340(L).
I was affrayit to mynt so heych For feir to gett ane fall

2. intr. a. To make a movement towards (to) something, to reach out for it. 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 158.
So that the mesys twichyn dar thai nocht: As that thai mynt tharto, than [etc.]

b. To make a move or attempt, to set about, aim, aspire, strive after, at, for, to (till, unto) something, to try to achieve or obtain it.Also tr., with clause as object, = to attempt, try to accomplish.(1) a1570-86 J. Maitland Maitl. F. clxxvii. 81.
intr. Mark and mynt at the honour laud and prays … Off sick as hes done doihtelie in this dayis [etc.] 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 969.
Had thay myntit till sic ane steir He had maid heuin and eirth to heir 1584 Waus Corr. 313.
The lettres … ar so oft mintit to and can nocht be gottin ressauit 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 170.
Take up sic a life presentlie as may best agree with that life quhilk we mynt unto 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 145/4.
Suffer thaime not to medle uith the policie … in the pulpitte, but snibbe sikkerlie the first that mintis to it a1599 Rollock Wks. I. 411.
Utherwayis let him never mint for that calling 1605-6 Welsh Forty-eight Serm. 61.
So I beseech you … ye would not delay at least to mint at rependance 1609 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I. 203.
That the perfectioune thairof [sc. the church service] sould be minted to 1635 Dickson Wr. 181.
I am assaying if I can win to the thing I would be at, and what is not done I am minting to it 1638 Baillie I. 71, 1642 Ib. II. 24. a1651 Calderwood VII. 215.
From this time furth, he durst never mint to anie exercise 1653 Binning Case of Conscience 32.
That the judicatories were minting at their duty to purge them Id. Wks. 608.
We … will not so much as mint at obedience 1657 Johnston Diary III. 78.
I earnestly intreated the lords … to … mint to my restauration a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 648.
To passe eight moe that minted at the kingdom 1662 Sel. Biog. I. 420.
Who dare mock at the words of a father though but minting at truth 1663 Ib. 442.
If one poor soul, minting after God, shall leave off its duty(2) 1625 Garden Kings 24.
tr. What might may not, by subtill meanes thay mint

3. intr. To address oneself to strike another, to make to strike or as if to strike (at or to another), to offer, threaten or aim a blow; also, to feint. b. Of an archer, etc.: To take aim. ?1438 Alex. i. 1041.
Nane micht endure agane his dynt, His fais chaissis than as he mynt c1420 Wynt. iv. 821.
Thai … swa thyk togyddyr stude, That nane mycht mys quhare he wald mynt Ib. viii. 2606, ix. 3236. 1590-1 R. Bruce Eleven Serm. (1591) Sig. S 3 a.
The Lords rebukes ar ever effectuall, he mynteth not against his enemies bot he layeth on a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 610.
Mint or ye strike a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 856.
Iff ye mint Is lay one 1600 Crim. Trials II. 194.
Giff they saw ony mynt at ony of the kingis Maiesteis seruandis to strik thame 1600 Acts IV. 206/2.
As he saw hym myntane with the quhinger 1600-1610 Melvill 21.
I minting with my pen-knyff to his legges to fley him 1607 Ib. 740.
Lyk fenseres they mint and seik at ane uthir pairt 1625 Ellon Par. 121.
With his gryt foirhamer drew and mintit thrie tymes a1651 Calderwood III. 592.
William brake a battoun upon a halbert, minting to Sir Johne Seton's horseb. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. ix. 16.
Or if thou be that archer so renound That vhair thou mints thou missis not the mark Id. Son. liv. 9.
Muse! thou mints at such a ma[rk] Vhais merit [etc.]

c. tr. const. infin.To address oneself, make the preliminary movements, offer, make as if, to strike, also to slay, and to draw one's sword.(1) 1574 Reg. Privy C. II. 418.
And to eschew further hurt of the said dog, he myntit to haif strukin him c1575 Balfour Pract. 529.
He sail give … to him quhom he mintit to strike, ane kow 1579 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 77.
For drawing of ane quhinger and myntene to strek thairwitht 1598 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 91. 1608 Crim. Trials III. 41.(2) 1600 Crim. Trials II. 153.
The said vmq^le Mr. Alexander drew the said Androis quhingear, and myntit to haue slane his Maiestie thairwith c 1600 MacGeorge Old Glasgow (1888) 197.
Minacing with wordes, minting to drawe ane sword to him

d. tr. To mint (a weapon) to (another), to make a movement to strike or as if to strike him with it, to brandish it threateningly at him. e. To aim (a musket) at another.d. 1597 Misc. Maitl. C. I. 130.
She confessis that … she mintit ane shool to him 1607 Stirling B. Rec. I. 116.
[He] drew and myntet ane suord to him 1630 Dundonald Par. Rec. 305.
Adam Wasoun … miscalling the sayd William and minting a whinȝer to hime. 1608 Perth Hammermen xxxvi.
[John Jamieson had] minted a musket [at the deacon]

f. passive. To be threatened with a blow of a weapon by another, to have a blow aimed at one. — 1638 Johnston Diary I. 371.
To be minted with ane straik of an quhinger by the King himselth

g. intr. To mint to (one's whinger), to make a threatening gesture towards it, to make as if to draw it. — 1605 Peebles Gleanings 10.
Baith … maid faith nane of thame drew ane quhynger, bot Alexander confessit that he mintit to his quhinger 1607 Melrose Reg. Rec. I. 47. 1630 Dundonald Par. Rec. 304.