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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.

Quhinȝar, Quhingȝ(e)ar, n. Also: quhyn-, quhyng-, quin-, quyn-; whin-; quhen-, quheyng- and -ȝare, -ȝeare, -year; -ȝeir, -yeir; -ȝer(e, -yer, -ȝard; (?quinȝeor). [Only Sc. Cf. e.m.E. whyneherd (1478), whyneard (1499), whynarde (a1529), 17th c. Eng. whiniard (1653), of unknown origin. Cf. also Quhingar n., Quhingear n., Quhinar n., Quhanger n.] A short sword, or a long knife or dagger.For further examples see Index to Treas. Acc.Also attrib. and comb.(a) 1494–5 Crim. Trials I i 21.
Quhinȝeare 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. 173a.
Quynȝere 1531 Treas. Acc. V 407.
Quhynȝare 1534 Ib. VI 209.
Quinȝearis 1538 Ib. VII 7.
For ane garnist quhynȝear wytht gold 1540 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 34.
For tua chapis to quhynyearis of sylver 1542 Inv. Q. Mary xi n.
Ane quhinyear with ane scheith of gold 1551 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 608.
Havand in his hand ane quhynȝear watterit and ungilt 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5992.
Quhinȝar 1565 Inverness Rec. I 128.
Quhynyearis 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 494.
That nane presume to weir … daggis pistolattis or uther kynd of armour … quhatsumevir, sword and quhinȝear allanerlie exceptit 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 394.
xvj furneist quhinyearis 1575 Edinb. Test. III 400b.
Schone belt quhynȝeir & knyfis Ib. 403.
Quhynȝer 1583 Ib. XII 286.
Thrie furneist quhinȝearis of ibane 1584 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 299.
Ane belt quhynyer 1584 Edinb. Hammermen III 35.
James Robesonis assay to wit ane plane furneist quhynȝear 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 205.
For ane quinȝeor [ed. quinȝdor] to yourself xxiiij s. 1595 Misc. Maitl. C. I 71.
Johnne … grantis he drew his quhinyeir 1600 Arch. Scot. I 172.
Quinȝeir 1611 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 105.
Ane plaine furneissit quinȝear 1640 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 612.(b) 1536 Treas. Acc. VI 460.
For ane quhingȝear … recowterit with silver and giltin 1538 Ib. VII 33.
For ane grete perle quhilk wes put to Monsieur Dorleanis quhyngȝear Ib. 37.
For the armes and devisis maid to the quhingȝearis of gold 1569 Digest Justiciary Proc. G. 38.
Quhingȝars 1570 Leslie 139. 1571 Treas. Acc. MS 99.
Twa gilt quhingȝearis(c) 15[31] Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 113.
Ane quhenȝer 1581 Lanark B. Rec. 81.
Hew pindit my kow quhille I … laid ane quhenȝer in wed thairof … quhilk quhenȝer wes worth ten s.(d) 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V 22.
Quheyngyer(e) 1612 Comrie Hist. Sc. Medic. I 243.
Nane of thair prenteisses … sall … weir ony dager, quhinȝard, or knyff except ane knyff to cut thair meit, wanting the point(f) 1629 Dundonald Par. Rec. 293 (see Egge-lume n.).
Whinȝear 1630 Ib. 305.
Whinȝerattrib. and comb. a1568 Bann. MS 134a/19.
Ȝe hurt me with ȝour quhinȝear heft — 1573 Edinb. Test. II 345b.
Sex dosane … quhynȝear schetis 1599 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 179.
Ane quhynȝear scheith and ane penner scheith 1623 Edinb. Test. LII 72b.
Certane quinȝer scheithes