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

Printis, -eis, n. Also: -ise, -ice, -yse, -yce; -es(e, -ece; -eise; printtes. [North. ME printiz (Cursor M.), Prentis n.]Also, plur. without inflection (see 2 below).In all of the Leg. S. examples quoted in sense 2, ri is an expansion of the scribal contraction.

1. An apprentice. = Prentis n. 1. 1489 Prot. Bk. J. Young (S.R.S.) II 55.
Johne Stewart … is becummyn printis to the said … to lere the cutlar craft 1504 (1550) Reg. Great S. 93/2.
He salbe in Dunde printeis bundyn till ane maister of the said craft 1561 Dundee B. Laws 388.
Heir begynnis the enteres of the printesis to the cordinar craft 1563–4 Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 67. 1567 Dundee B. Laws 372.
Thair sall na printeis wear ane quhingear nor scharp nebbit knyf during the ȝeris of his printeschip a1578 Pitsc. I 176/8.
At his beginning he [sc. the Earl of Mar] was bot ane printis to ane maisonne 1610 Glasgow B. Rec. I 312.
Scolleris and printicis … haunting the yardis quhair the alie bowlis [etc.] … ar usit 1611 Glasgow B. Rec. I 318.
That na printeis heireftir salbe admittit burges except his maister compeir with him 1622-6 Bisset II 237/26.
Printese 1656 Dunferm. Hammermen MS 58 (16 Jan.).
Printtes 1670 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 426.
Wee ordaine lykwayes that none of our lodge teach or instruct ane entered printise untill [etc.]

2. A disciple. = Prentis n. 2. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 151.
& thu his [Christ's] suthfast printese be Ib. xxvii 632.
Printyce Ib. 653.
Printyse Ib. xxxv 183.
Printeiseuninfl. plur. a1400 Leg. S. iv 245.
His printes … stal away the body … and … thai lad it in a bate Ib. xviii 1092.
Ihesu had With his printese his super mad Ib. xi 63.
Printece Ib. xxvii 806.
Printeise