Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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About this entry:
First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pen(n, n. [Var. of Pend n.¹ by reduction of the final consonant.Also in the mod. dial.]

An arch, archway, or arched opening. = Pend n.¹ 1. 1541 Soc. Ant. III. 161.
[In Mid-Calder] abone the walter tabill abone the thak of the revestre and thre penis thairof to ryse cunteranis of buttreis vpoune the east gauill and thre penis thairof 1589–90 Ayr Common Good Acc.
For the trie … to beir the pen of the port viij s. 1608 R. Brown Paisley I. 199.
To take down the north syde of the west port together with the haill pen 1662 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 489.
That ane handsome litle brige with ane penn be put over St. Tenowes burne 1663 Dumbarton B. Rec. 82.
The bridge to be built all of hewne stane in the pens and above 1665 Irvine Mun. II. 196.
Ther brig … being schrunk in the pillers and decayet in the pen therof 1681 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XI. 530.
For the stone bridge of Innernes … to the messins in the quarrie of Redcastel for hewing and polissin of sevin bowes of odgers ornal pen [etc.] 1693 Ib. 107.
To bring forward their said loft or seatt to the westmost end of the penn as the magistrats and counsell enters in to their seatt in the church