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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
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Opin, Oppin, a. Also: opine, -inn, -yn(e, -en, opne; oppine, oppyn(e, -oyn, -en; vppin; and Apin. [ME. and e.m.E. open, opyn, etc., OE. open.] Open.

1. Of doors, lids, and the like: Not shut. Also of a book.In various lit. and fig. contexts and const. to (incomers, ingress, etc.).Opin duris: in the formula for authorisation of entry, see also (the Kingis etc.) keyis, Key n.¹ 1 b, Lokfast a. 1 (3) and Patent a.; also implying freedom of entry and exit or of access. To keip ane opin dore (= outlet) (to oneself, to do something). With oppin chaftes, cf. 7 a below.(1) 1375 Barb. xvii. 926.
At oppyn [E. opyn] ȝet a1400 Leg. S. xi. 261.
Tho thare ene al opyne be c1420 Wynt. v. 3809.
The yhete off Hewyn that ay suld be Oppyn till all man penytent a1500 Henr. Fab. 2816 (Bann.).
Myne oppin gill c1475 Wall. xi. 1399.
To lat him haiff his psalter buk in sycht He gert a preyst it oppyn befor him hauld 1511 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 107.
Haldand it [a door] oppyn c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxix. 36.
Syne Deid castis up his ȝettis wyd Saying, ‘Thir oppin sall the abyd’ 1513 Doug. ix. ix. 20.
At euery part or oppyn fenystar Ib. xi. 46.
Alsswith as the Rutylianys dyd se The ȝet oppyn 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2327.
All oppin he thame [the gates] fand Ib. 8939. a1578 Pitsc. I. 188/11. 1594 Edinb. B. Rec.V. 115.
That the baillies … caus hald the girneris durris … to be patent and oppin all tymes of the day 1616 Dalyell Darker Superst. 7.
[To look on them] with opin eyis and pray evill for thame 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 66.
[The said did] violently break oppen … the whole doores(2) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 71.
The laird of Drylay … began to requyre open doures 1581 Acts III. 221/2.
To quhilkes seircheouris oppin durris salbe maid of quhatsumever housis thai cum to serche(3) 1670 Inverness Rec. II. 245.
Foir holding the prisson doirs opin on the prissoners the space of an quholl day 1681 Stair Inst. App. (1832) 793.
The other act … ordains all reports and all bills … to be reasoned and determined with open doors and likewise all disputes in praesentia to be with open doors(4) 1670 Boyd Fam. P. No. 304 a (8 Nov.).
By keipinge ane opine dore to yowr selfe to destroy ws both(5) 1553 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 160.
To cry out with oppin chaftes on the halie counsalis(6) 1567 G. Ball. 218.
How lusting lufe … The oppin eyis of sum do blind(7) 1456 Hay II. 58/34.
In larges of giftis he had ever the hand opyn till all men

b. Of a letter or document: Unsealed. 1568 Q. Mary in Ellis Orig. Lett. 1 Ser. II. 253.
Ȝe schal si my bel vhuilk is opne

2. a. Of garments, passages, boats, etc.: Of the kind which is not closed or covered over or which has no roof, lid or gate. 1455 Acts II. 43/2.
Mantillis of brown granyt opyn befor 1490 Irland Mir. I. 154/18.
Sche is the schip closit benethe and opin aboue 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 205.
To the opin sleffis of it 1563 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 166.
To close the mouthis of all the oppin conductis quhilk cumis to the hie streit 1570 Prot. Bk. A. Millar 4 b.
Ane oppin gardevyat c1575 Balfour Pract. 588. 1610 Conv. Burghs II. 303.
Ilk oppin bott 1631 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B. 12.
Ane dowblet … oppine doun back & airmes 1647 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 118.
Oppen

b. Not closed, shut up or covered over. 1375 Barb. v. 382.
Fiffe men or sex … [That] fand all oppyn the entre a1400 Leg. S. xxiii. 216. c 1420 Liber Calchou II. 449.
For al is opyn the porys of the body a1500 Seven S. 887.
To lat that hole still opyn be 1513 Doug. i. vii. 104.
The void cart Hyngand wyde oppyn 16.. Alchem. MSS.V.
Distill it be ane open fyre 1664 Peebles B. Rec. II. 61.
Keepand ane oppin entrie … betuixt [etc.]

c. Oppin licht, broad daylight. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 28.
Not only to forbeir the company of men, bot alswa from luking on the oppin licht

3. Of areas, roads, etc.: Unenclosed, unobstructed, vacant of buildings or other obstructions; also, open to public view. c1420 Wynt. i. 182.
In hyddlys or in opyn plase Ib. viii. 3698.
Swa thai lefft thare na fortres Bot all stwde oppyn as it fyrst wes 1514 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 150.
Thair is certane lands on the south syde of the … towne vnder the wall … opin and vnclosit … ; that thairfore … the possessors … of the said oppin landis … big vp thair heid dykis [etc.] 1544 Ayr B. Acc. c.
[In] the oppin partis of the toun 1569 St. A. Kirk S. 319.
In sum opin place of the kirk c1590 Fowler II. 134/20.
Schawing him self vpon the oppen stages and theatre 1597 Elgin Rec. II. 56.
The mekill oppin places 1608 Conv. Burghs II. 253.
That … swyne be nocht sufferit to hant in the oppin streitis 1628 Linlithgow B. Rec. 17 Oct.
In respect the samein [fountain] stands in swa oppin ane place as ane deid monoment 1655 Laing MSS. I. 299.
Your petitioners … haith ever since had our meitting for the worshippe … of God in the oppine feilds 1684 Glamis Bk. Record 35.
The middows [formerly] an open and common pasture

b. Open to access or to public resort; open for business.Opin tyme, i.e. during which a legal or religious act might lawfully be carried out.(1) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 131/4.
Thocht sche closit hire chaumere to men … jt was ay opin to God and His angellis 1515 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 15.
Nor yit till hald thair loft and buith oppin on the day licht quhill Fryday 1538 Breadalbane Docs. No. 48.
The saidis Johne is hous salbe oppin to the said Archibald to hors meit and manis meit 1548 Edin. B. Rec. II. 142.
That na maner of persoun hald oppin tavern bot [etc.] 1567 G. Ball. 146.
And heuin He hes made oppin, Bringand vs lyfe againe 1588 Wemyss Chart. MS.
To mak thair tolbuithis opin and patent 1590 Elgin Rec. II. 14.
Oppin 1591 Misc. Spald. C. II. 217.
That ye and the jevelouris [sc. of Edinburgh] … are slaw … to mak your tolbuith and preasoun oppin … to our said constabill 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 60.
[Unfree men] keep oppin buythis and stances 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 348.
This man is off the stage and leaves it open and patent for others(2) 1483 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 48.
Thair sall [be] na oppin mercat vsit … vpoun the hie streittis 1534 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 116.
At every man … at hes sic sik stuf to sel present the opin mercat with the samyn 1564 Reg. Privy C. I. 279.
To by or sell any maner of tymmer … bot in oppin and plane marcattis 1605 Conv. Burghs II. 202.
To keip oppin merkettis in selling of stapill wairis in the clachins of Kilmacolm 1646 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 91.
In oppine mercat 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 241.(3) 1497–8 Acta Conc. II. 119.
The lordis ordanis … that the chancellary be opin and that brevis of divisione be gevin thame 1500–1 Ib. 483. 1502 Ib. III. 186.(4) 1432 15th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. VIII. 44.
And at the next opin and lachful tyme folowand, the matrimone to be complete … in haly kirk

c. Open gate: the public street; a free or open access road. 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 29.
Outhir in the opin gate or in the kirk 1519 Reg. Panmure II. 292.
[He] grantis … ane oppin gate and lone to his tenentis … throu his landis … to pas 15.. Aberd. B. Rec. MS. (Jam.).
Calland him koff-caryll one the oppin gait

d. Open (sea(s)). 1513 Doug. v. iv. 101.
Outthrow the oppyn see 1615 Highland P. III. 250.
Then to the oppin seaes

e. Oppin presoun, ? = with freedom to come and go. a1538 Abell 65 b.
Quharfore the nobilis tuke him … and put him in oppin presone 1679 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 12 Nov.
Johne McJoar … quha hath friedome of open prison

f. Open (to sight or view), visible. g. Not hindered or prevented. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 521.
Ne mayd oppyn to mannys syght Ib. 1084.
Scho in-to lyf beand The retoure Gregeois … May nocht be mayd fre faculte Oppyne to thame to sayle the see

4. Exposed to general view or knowledge; performed publicly or without concealment; manifest, public. Also adv.Also, be opin proclamation, also cry, in opin audience, assemble, parliament, opin sicht, (to mak) opin satisfaction, opin bruit.(1) 1375 Barb. ix. 350.
And how the toun wes hard to ta Vith oppyn assale a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi. 445.
His opyne teching c1420 Wynt. v. 2551.
With opyn and playne confessyowne 1456 Hay II. 146/5.
Thare is twa maneris of justice … ane opyn, ane othir covert c1460 Consail Vys Man 419.
Bettir is opine chastiment Na luf that is hid in thin entent c1475 Wall. viii. 416.
The barnage haill maid him ane oppyn band a1568 Scott iv. 74.
In opin wyis 1587 Carmichael Etym. s.v.
Auctio, open sale of goods c1590 Fowler I. 57/265.
From whence dois cum his oppin death 1622-6 Bisset I. 26/13.
Oppinadv. c1420 Wynt. v. 3354 (C).
Withe hast tharfor he tuk his set Opyn and playn in the market(2) 1445 Reg. Episc. Morav. 219.
That thai nothir compell na distrene ony man … be oppyn proclamation or ony odir maner of compulsion … to cum to thaim 1496 Douglas Chart. 154.
To charge the said Johne Auchinlek be open proclamatioun [etc.] 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 253/1. 1493 Acta Aud. 173/1.
And oppyn proclamatioun to be maid therapon at the merkat corssis … to aduertist [etc.] 1534 Bamff Chart. 64.
The said Sir David beand in the pupit presentlie ressavit the said grauatour and read the samyn be oppin proclamation a1568 Scott i. 49. a1578 Pitsc. II. 172/18. 1602 S. Leith Rec. 3/2.
The sessioun … comanded be oppin proclamacoun and straik of drome that [etc.] 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 179.
O that I could hear the forfeiture of Christ (now casten out of His inheritance) recalled and taken off by open proclamation 1672 Rothesay B. Rec. 312. 1697 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI. 45. — 1535 Stewart 22539.
Thir tuo kingis than maid ane opin cry … baith corne, cattell and ky … Sould all be fre wnto the men of weir(3) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. 273.
This lay was red in oppin audience Of the musis and in Venus presence c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 165. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9193.
And how he was accusit in presence Of hir father in oppin audience Ib. 779, etc. 1563 Peebles B. Rec. I. 293.
In the oppin audiens of the haill parrochyn 1604 Inverness Rec. II. 25. — 1561 St. A. Kirk S. 85.
The sayd Mr. Alexander in oppyn assemble injurit the Superintendent — a1651 Calderwood VII. 252.
Howbeit otherways men not verie forward, yit … some of them resolved to make a protestation in open parliament(4) a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 294.
Quhen God sal haf mycht To deme al don in opyne sycht Ib. xx. 203; etc. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxxiv. .
His marteris all in oppin sicht Sell sit in judgment sett(5) 1562 Edinb. Hammermen 252 b.
To mak oppin satisfactioun to the said James afore the kirk 1562-3 Winȝet I. 12/16.
Praying that wikit persoun quhatsumevir … haistelie to returne to oppin repentance 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II. lx.
The Erles ryses furth of thair dask, cumis in befoir the pulpett, makis ane vppin confessioun(6) 1596 Soc. Ant. IV. 157.
Nevertheles Argyll maid the oppin brutt that Ardkinlas did all that falsheid by his knawlege 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS. 15 Feb.
Anent the oppin brute of thair being wpone the … knawledge of the raueissing of Elspeth Hendersone

b. Of reprobated actions or the persons performing them: Unconcealed, public, blatant.(1) c1420 Wynt. vi. 1134.
Be thyfft, Oppyn reffe or wrangwys gyft Or wyth falshad a1500 Henr. Fab. 1394 (Bann.).
Oppin sin Id. Test. Cress. 305.
For the dispyte to Cupide … oppin and manifest Id. III. 163/52. 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 270.
For thare oppin synnis and cruel mysdedis c1500 Barounis Lawis 12.
Gif it be ane oppyne trespas that mistaris na preif 1551 Hamilton Cat. 99.
For ony silver or silver worth thai commit oppin symony 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 21.
Oppin horedome 1563 Reg. Privy C. I. 245.
This oppin wrang 1558-66 Knox II. 406.
Be opin tyrannie 1568 Sempill Sat. P. xlvii. 101.
Oppin sklander 1568–9 St. A. Kirk S. 314.
That he suffer na opin cairting and dysyng [etc.] … in his hows 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 2.
At lenth began oppin haitrent to brek out c1590 Fowler II. 25/25.
For be oppin force they drew me in … & thair shamefullye … dischargit thair beistlines 1651 Glasgow Burgesses vi.
For thair oppin miscariadge to the proveist(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 612 (Asl.).
Crist our king … Sufferis opyn synnaris … To ryng c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 343/31.
Frail opinn synnaris 1533 Gau 19/22.
Hwris and oppine sinners a1538 Abell 79 a.
He institut at nane suld here the mes of ane oppin concubiner 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. lxi.
And to remove thair oppin concubinis 1559 St. A. Kirk S. 5.
Being comprehendit ane oppin adulterar 1561 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 11.
We crave oppin malefactors condignely to be punished 1592 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 75.
To be declairit at the mercat croce of this burght ane oppin blasphemer of the treuth

c. Of an enemy: Openly declared or manifested; avowed. d. Open (war). e. To tak opin part, to side openly.c. a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1148.
Than feinȝeit freind better is opin fa a1605 Montg. Misc. P. iii. 73.d. 1456 Hay I. 223/4, 5.
And the were is all opin and jugit be the kingis to be opin Ib. 230/22.
Sen ȝe ar at opyn were aganis oure king Ib. 162/13, 222/7. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 138/3.
To invaid the Romanis with opin werise. 1431 Highland P. II. 167.
To tak opin part in the contrary gyf ony wald vex thaim 1467 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 403.
To keep hartly frendschype … and … to tak oppin upricht pairt … one with the other 1467 Anal. Scot. I. 380.
To take opyne upricht pairt … with the forsaide Duncan

5. a. Clear, evident. a1400 Leg. S. xliii. 563.
Agane opyne suthfastnes 1513 Doug. ix. x. 168.
In oppyn perrellys 1570 Leslie 92.
Be oppin takingis

b. Of a form of expression: Not obscure, plain. ?1438 Alex. ii. coloph. 10.
To mak it on sa gude manere, Sa oppin sentence and sa clere As is the Frenche c1420 Wynt. i. Prol. 23.
In to plane and opyne style But curyous wordis or suttyle

6. Free, available. 1456 Hay I. 254/16.
For all lawis ar till him opyn, to bynd and lous at his will

b. Oppin renȝeis (= reins), freedom, licence.Appar. only in Bellenden. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 360.
For sic personis as wer dantit afore be feir of justice, began, with opin renyeis, to ouirhail the peple with sindry oppressionis Id. Livy I. 133/16.
To frequent thare lustis with mare opin renȝeis than ony vtheris 1533 Ib./29.
The lawis hantit amang thir new consullis was ane thing richt vnmercefull … for the samyn has nowthir opin renȝeis nor ȝit remissioun quhen ony cryme is committit

c. Unrestrained, unbridled (tongue). c1460 Consail Vys Man 382.
Sa opin tung has na traistinge

d. Ready, willing. 1456 Hay II. 98/1.
And the largesse of thy curage that be ever opyn and redy to mak thame gude chere

7. With, be, upon opin voce, also vocis. a. Of birds: (Singing) with throats and mouths wide open (cf. sense 1). b. Audibly and publicly. c. By public fame or rumour.a. a1500 Lanc. 13.
Throw birdis songe with opine wox one hy c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlviii. 59.
The birdis did with oppin vocis cryb. 1534 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 140.
In presens of the balyes [and] inquisitouris Thomas Hendersone sais vith opin voice that [etc.] 1562 Mill Mediæv. Plays 152.
For the passing throw the rewis of the toun with the hand bell be oppin voce to convene the haill communitec. 1525 St. A. Formulare I. 268.
The pietuos … complaint that passis oure all the reaulme and cumin to his eris be oppin voce 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I. 102.
And as a notorious witche be oppin voce and common fame 1613 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 1 b (18 Feb.).
Examinit … in respect of … dilatioun maid befoir the sessioun vpon opin voice and comound fame 1649 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 50.

8. Of one's countenance: Open, frank, candid. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 168/8.
But keepe then ane oppin & cheirfull countenance

9. Open cast, an open excavation (Cast n. 7), one exposed from the surface as distinguished from a shaft, tunnel or the like.Also in the mod. Sc. and Northumb. dial., also freq. as attrib. or adj., chiefly or only as a mining term. 16.. Information of Coalheugh at Campbelltown in Argyll Mun. (Estates & Forfeitures). MS.
Your fewars [to] work the open cast of the levell evrie man so many boane darges which wold not be refused your lo. vpon demand 1660 Dunferm. Kirk S. 55 (see Cast n. 7). 1675 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt Nov. 27.
For making a trap to the open cast 1678 Ib.
For working at the oppencast on the southsyd of the Combe