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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.

Prent, n. Also: prentt. [ME and e.m.E. prent(e (c 1315), med. L. prentum (1355 in Latham), prenta (1404 in Latham), Du. prent, MLG and LG prente, f. OF priente (1317 in Godef.), preinte: cf. Print n.]

1. An impression or imprint on a surface; esp. one made by a stamp, die, seal or the like. 1583 Conv. Burghs I 168.
Innernes [seal] having the pictour and prentt of oure lady 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Feodvm.
The keiper of the signet, sall vpon the back-side of the prent of the signet, set downe the price … he receives for everie precept 1603 Philotus 1xii.
Quhen the stamping seale is set In wax … The prent thairof ramayning may ȝe get

2. Specifically, the imprint on a coin.(1) 1475 Acts II 112/1.
Nouther siluer nor gold that beris prent & forme of cunȝe … be in ony wis moltyn or put to the fire [etc.] Ib.
Al money … that is cunȝit and has prent 1493 Ib. 233/2.
Grotis … berand prent of our souerane lordis straik(2) 1451 Acts II 40/1.
Ane new penny of golde callit a lyone with the prent of the lyon on the ta side 1480 Acta Conc. I 76/1.
xx pece of gold … of the prent of Sanctrandreis cors 1483 Acts II 166/1.
The said penneis … to haue sic prent and circumscriptioun as salbe avisit 1488 Ib. 208/2.
For xx of the saidis groitis of the samyn prent c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi 66.
With gold of allkin prent c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxii 19.
Schaw ye to me the prent [P. prynte] of the money 1533 Boece 183.
Of sum [pennies] the prent [L. nota] was ane doubill porte 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 136. 1579 Acts III 150/1. 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 397. 1593 Acts IV 49/2.
The prent of the siluer to haue the portrat of his maisteis face … on the ane syde(3) 1466 Acts II 86/1.
Coppir money … having in prent on the ta parte the crois of Saint Androu and the crovne [etc.]

b. A batch of coins of the same impression printed at one time; a printing or ‘impression’ of coins. 1533 Boece 183.
Donald … strake the cunȝe and prent of the goldin penny 1566 Crim. Trials I i 487.
The … counterfutting of thair hienessis cunȝe, callit the prent of lyonis, vtherwyise callit hardheidis 1567 Acts III 29/1.
And that na prent nor cunȝe of ony layit money be maid 1599 Crim. Trials II 100.
The said Arthour forgeit ane pair of yrnes for the prent of the saidis pistulettis

3. a. Typography, the printing of letters on paper. b. The equipment employed to produce print of this kind, a press or the type or fount used on particular occasions. c. In prent, in printed form. d. ? A particular edition of a particular work.(1) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 265 (Harl.).
As quhite paper is reddy to the prent Off blak and blew 1507 Reg. Privy S. I 223/2.
Forsamekill as … Walter Chepman and Andro Millar … has … takin on thame to … bring hame ane prent with al stuf belangand tharto and expert men to use the samyne for imprenting … of … bukis [etc.] 1509–10 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 84. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 292.
All uthir faultis … committit … be imperfection of the prent, the lettir nocht beand fullily fillit with ynk or nocht set in evin and rycht order, ane gentil reider may … persaif and … suld reid thame as weil as he can(2) 1579 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 303.
xvi psalmes, Inglis prent, bund 1606 Ib. 353.
Four hundreth … catechismes, Waldgrauis prent 1606 Misc. Bann. C. II 224.
Item fyve hundreth tua doubill Catechismes small prent … ij^clxxxv Catechismes fyne prent(3) a1538 Abell 21 b.
Our kirkmen … may think schame at thai haif litill cuyr … of bukis, sen tha ar sa gude schaip in prent 1542 Ayr Common Good Acc. MS.
For the Actis of Parliament in prent, viij s. 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 110.
Ane proclamatioun … set furtht in prent c 1555 Crail Ch. Reg. 65.
Ane buk in prent … chenȝeid at the desk 1562-3 Winȝet I 60/9.
[We] ar stoppit be … tyrannie … to put furth our mynd in prent at hame a1578 Pitsc. II 141/28. 1583 Reg. Privy C. III 583.
Be famous libellis bayth in write and prent 1586 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 50.
From France it is gevin owt and in prent cummit in this cuntrey that [etc.] 1600 Edinb. B. Rec. V 266. 1611-57 Mure Sonnets 1 Ser. xii 5. 1622-6 Bisset II 264/30.(4) 1549 Lamb Resonyng 67/7.
I call to witnessing … Polidor … in all his buikis of Inglis historijs, to the first prent

4. That which makes an impression as in prec. senses, a die or stamp, or the engraved face of a die or stamp. Also fig. 1526 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 250.
That thai deliverit … certan prentene irnis of the last cunȝe of gold and silver hakkit and the prent of thaim distroyit in presens of the saidis lordis 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. (S.H.S.) 50.
The smyth … to haif the prent that he fand in the forge or ellis ane uder prent 1625 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 8.
For the coyneing of his maiesties coyne … with his maisties owne prent and stamp 1638 Edinb. Test. LVIII 331 b.
[In] the pewderer irone work lomes following … ane balk, ane quheill, ane prent, heukis [etc.]fig. c1475 Wall. v 606.
Wallace hyr saw … The prent off luff him punȝeit at the last, So asprely

5. The impression or trace left on one thing by another. 1531 Bell. Boece I xi.
As carvell ticht fast tending throw the see, Levis na prent amang the wallis hie Ib. II 86.
Ane castell callit Dunbarre, of quhilk na thing remanis now bot the prent [L. vestigia] of the wallis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5579.
Appeir sall, in his handis, and feit, And, in his syde, the prent compleit, Off his fyue woundis precious

6. a. The image or likeness of something. b. The appearance, form, shape or figure of someone or something.a. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1452 (Bann.).
Thocht thow had fund my figour lyand swa, Becaus it bair the prent of my persoun, Thow suld [etc.] 1513 Doug. v x 55.
Troianys … dyd aspy The prent of faderis facis on childir ȝyng 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 164.
The pantyt povn … Yschrowdyt in hys fedrame … Schapand the prent of Argus hundreth eyn 1533 Boece 629.
Or ellis at lest the prent of his visage was out of thair memoryb. (1) c1450-2 Howlat 854 (A).
That thai wald pray Natur his [sc. the owl's] prent to renewe 1535 Stewart 1045.
The ȝoung virgeins … To luke on thame was so delicious … Thair plesand prent, and eik thair tender age Ib. 12517.
With baneris brycht and proude pynsallis of pryde, Of perfite prent all wrocht ouir with gold wyre Ib. 16276, 56381.(2) c1450-2 Howlat 901 (A).
He lukit to his lykame … So propir plesand of prent

c. A pattern or model of excellence; a supreme exemplar; excellence. c1450-2 Howlat 971 (A).
Ȝe princis, prentis of pryde, for penneis & prowe That pullis the pure ay 1490 Irland Mir. MS fol. 234 b.
Of this carectare and prent of Cristianite spekis the chepture [etc.] a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 590.
That fair ȝoung prince, … In manly natour the prent of perfitnes