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

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

Name, v.¹ Also: naim(e, nayme, neam(e, neym. P.t. and p.p. namit, -yt, etc., named, namde. [ME. (Wyclif, Gower) and e.m.E. name, OE. (ᵹe)namian f. nama Name n.: the usual OE. and ME. verb. was nemnan, nemnen (see Nemmin v. and Nem v.).]

1. tr. To supply a name to, to call by some individual name or usual designation. Freq. p.p., = named, called.Also to name (a person, place, etc.) efter or fra (from) someone or something else. 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 129.
Pargamea I namyt it but baid 1533 Boece ii. xiv. 89.
He … namyt it Innernes fra the rivere and louch fleting thareby c1552 Lynd. Mon. 736, 7.
To all thyngis materiall, He [Adam] namyt thame in speciall: Quhow he thame namyt ȝitt bene kend 1596 Dalr. I. 3/2.
The maist ancient wryteris names Britannie Albion but all controuersie Ib. 145/8.
This athe of keiping fidelitie or, as the vulgar vses to name it, ane athe of homage Ib. 3/30.P.p. a1400 Leg. S. i. 550.
The blame, that lytil befor tholit he Of thame namyt of Galele a1500 Henr. Orph. 38 (Asl.).
The first in Grewe was callit Euterpe, … The secound maide named Melpomane c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 47/10.
The sanct that thow art named efter 1513 Doug. i. viii. 71.
Bot in our days laitly … Eftir thar duke it is namyt Italy Ib. xi. Prol. 39. 1531 Bell. Boece I. xlv.
Ane herbe namit hadder Ib. 10.
The first ile … wes namit Ardgaell fra Gathelus Ib.
A banist pepill namit Pichtis 1533 Boece x. xiv. 385.
This place was namyt the blak coiff Ib. xiii. viii. 515 b.
Sanct Dominyk … institute the ordoure … quhilk … ȝit ar namyt the Domynyk freris 1533 Bell. Livy I. 12/24.
The place … was namyt be thame Troy, bot it was callit efter Pagus … ane landwart towne Ib. 37/11. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 71. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 282. Ib. 292, 324, 383. a1578 Pitsc. I. 64/6. 1596 Dalr. I. 12/12.
Nidisdale sa named frome the water of Nid Ib. 119/26.
The title … is sa namet, Regiam Maiestatem Ib. 52/7.
Namet ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 53.
Ane iyle namitt in the Erische leid Ellan Iisall 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 131.
Namet

b. To designate by some title or epithet, to style. 1513 Doug. vi. Prol. 163.
To name thé God, that war a manifest le 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 87.
Maister Alexander Wardlaw, named of layt parson of Balingrie 1562-3 Winȝet II. 8/17.
This reul … we nameit it bayth a waippin and a werklume [etc.] 1565 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xlviii.
We will ordane and consentis that he be namyt and stilit king of this our kingdome 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 510.
Cunye namit hardheidis a1578 Pitsc. I. 48/7.
This Earle James namet Gros James c1590 Fowler I. 380/41.
Or els that he … had … not for Priams sonne beyne know, nor Hectors brother namde 1596 Dalr. ii. 249/3.
That the King of Ingland … names him selfe King of Irland Ib. 391/15. 1600-1610 Melvill 556.
We answerit that sic wer athare of old prelates or men namit bisschoppis c1650 Spalding II. 173.
Mr Archibald Johnstoun … who wes named my lord

c. In p.p., Having the reputation of (possessing) some character or attribute, noted for (of) the attribute: cf. Name n. 5 d. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 418.
Ane of the best That now is namyt neir of all nobilnes

2. To utter or mention the name of; to specify by name. = Nem v. 2 and 3.(1) ?1438 Alex. ii. 3999.
The four brether … That I haue named lang time syne 1456 Hay I. 150/22.
For be his condicioun he namyt na man to his service, nouthir Johne na Williame na othir name but annerly ane hundreth men of armes Ib. 266/18.
That he traistis that he has gude querele and namand the caus Ib. II. 64/32.
Ȝone fretis that we have here sum part namyt, and otheris c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 71/17.
I haue … in myn hert namyt the enemy throw … ire 1562-3 Winȝet I. 26/1.
I namet the twa personis following by vtheris 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 539.
Gif she war that woman quhilk the placardis namet she wes … vnworthy to leif 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. i. 98.
Voces … ambiguas: (incertaine, naming no man) 1596 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 168.
Ane laid woll hyddes [etc.] … foure penneis; … all laids nocht namet in this present tabill … twa penneis, the burding nocht namet, ane penny 1607 Crim. Trials II. 524.
[He] haifing namit the said Issobell be hir name(b) 1540 Macritchie Gypsies 34.
To nayme or nott samony of thair company as he was plenteus on 1622-6 Bisset II. 295/30.
All thrie quhilk wrait the catalog of these disciples dois naim no suich one(2) 1461 Chart. (Reg. H.) No. 362.
Alswele unnamyet as namyt 1504 Crim. Trials I. i. 43.
Alse weile nocht nemmit as namyt 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 83.
Alssweyll nocht neymitt as nemytt c 1536–7 Ib. 222.
Lands as weill nott neamit as neamitt 1564–5 Ib. 279. 1579 Acts III. 158/1.(3) 1456 Hay II. 38/13.
The sevin vertues before namyt 1499 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 625.
The fore namyt landis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 25/4.
This mater of sedition afore namit 1640 Inverness Rec. II. 176.
And remanent … honest men abouen naimet of this bruch

3. To call by its right name.In negative context, implying that one does not know the name. 1685 Dunlop P. III. 17.
Ther is good stor of kiene and shiep sume goats sume swien … and many sorts of tries which I cannot neam

4. To nominate, designate, appoint (a person). = Nem v. 4. 1493 Lennox Mun. 147.
In our nayme and behalf … to nayme, cheis and present ande to thame fathfully to binde [etc.] 1505 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 105.
For that intent thai haif namit and chosin Thomas Glendunwyne thair belman 1533 Boece ii. v. 64 b.
Gif in ony of thir foresaidis war questioun … ane iuge suld be namyt 1539 Reg. Privy S. II. 457/2. 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 44. 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 130.
Gif the lord neames his tennent and chargis to mak him in reddines [for the levy] 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 228.
Sic personis as ples the Quenis grace name to tak cognitioun as is within writtin 1561 Digest Justiciary Proc. D. 11.
For airt and pairt of the cheisinge of George Durye in Robert Hude wther wayes calland and namand him Lord of Obedience 1596 Dalr. I. 131/3.
Fergus … namet first King of Scottis in Albion for his felloune fortitude 1603 Shetland Sheriff Ct. 68.
Nicole Manison nameit be the fold for the King 1610 Laing MSS. I. 119. 1642 Misc. Spald. C. I. 24.
To such freinds wher yow are as yow shall therin nam c 1666 Laing MSS. I. 349.
Som others that hid neamd you and Crafurd un to be aded to ther comitie

b. To enrol, muster (an army). = Nem v. 4 d. c1420 Wynt. viii. 5960 (W).
All the ost thai gert thar name [v.rr. aname, anayme, enname]

c. To assign, allot, reserve (something) to or upon a recipient. 1456 Hay I. 239/30. Ib. 240/23.
For the privilege was specialy namyt to the ox 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 159.
[Together with] ane kow quhilk is already named upon the said Christian