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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prance, Prans(e, v. Also: praunce. [ME (Chaucer, Gower, etc.) and e.m.E. praunce, prawnce, e.m.E. also prance, prans(e, of unknown origin; but cf. Da. dial. prandse, pranse (N. Jutland) ‘to go in a stately, proud fashion’, etc.Sense 4 is appar. recorded only once (c 1450) in e.m.E. and in later dial. use is appar. at first chiefly or only Sc.]

1. intr. Of horses: To prance. Also said of other animals.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 943.
The hors pransand the men of music sang 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 783.
Whil Phoebus' steeds abowt the poles do praunce 1643 Fugitive Poetry II xx 8/17.
They smelling war did volt and proudly pranse(2) c1450-2 Howlat 21 (A).
Becaus that thir hartes in heirdis couth huf, Pransand and prunȝeand be paire and be paire

2. Said of a person riding a prancing or high stepping steed: To ride ostentatiously. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 3221.
Sa com Samsone vpoun ane steid pransand a1500 K. Hart 224.
Thay preik, thay prance, as princis that war woude 1513 Doug. v x 18.
The childir, arrayit fair and gent, Enterit in the camp … On stedis pransand in thar faderis syght Ib. xi xiii 4.
Camylla … apon hyr foyn Prowdly pransys lyke a wench Amazon Ib. x i 47. 1531 Bell. Boece I vii.
Two plesand ladyis come pransand ouir the bentis

3. To walk in an ostentatious or haughty manner; to strut or swagger. a1500 Peblis to Play 92.
Than thai to the taverne hous With meikle oly prance 1513 Doug. v v 48.
Ilkane of thame, furth pransand lyke a lard a1650 Row 462.
Ane young gentleman latelie come from France, pransing in his French garb with his short skarlet cloake and his long caudie rapier

4. To gambol, caper. a1500 Colk. Sow i 398.
And so thay wend thay weill dansit And did bot practit and pransit