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.
Propin(e, -pyn(e, n. Also: -pynn-; -phyn; -poyne. [Only Sc. Obs. F. propine (16th c. in Godef.) ‘drink-money, or somewhat to drink’ (Cotgrave, in OED), f. propiner Propine v. Cf. Span. propina present, ‘tip’, Ital. propina a drinking, a ‘health’. See also Propinie n.] A thing or things presented as a gift; a present.As: a gift from a corporation (also, a person of rank) to a sovereign or person of disctinction; a gift over and above a payment due; a money gift (perh., drink-money) to an inferior in rank; a gift, generally (sometimes, ? with the implication of an ulterior motive).Freq., esp. in early instances, consisting of or including a gift of wine.In (name of) propine(s or in a propine, also for propine, as a gift.Also fig. or in fig. context.(1) 1448 Aberd. B. Rec. I 17.
The … counsaile … to mak a propyne to … the kingis welcum … of twa tunnes of Gascoene wyne, … wax and … scorchetis 1555 Conv. Burghs II 487.
That ane generall contributioun and propine of money be vpliftit … and gevin to the quenis grace 1580 Aberd. B. Rec. II 37.
To propyne thair graces witht ane honorabille propyne of gold, waks and spyce [etc.] … to the furnesing of his graces hous 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V 2. 1641 Glasgow B. Rec. I 436.
With a propyne of lx elnes linning cloathe, twa gallounes of aquavytie [etc.] 1680 Edinb. B. Rec. X 416.(2) 1490 Misc. Spald. C. V 31.
For ane propyne to be gevin to our souerane lord, extendinge to lx lib. 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 105.
The greit preparatiuis Of Edinburgh … the day of hir entrace With greit propynis geuin till hir grace 1554–5 Edinb. Old Acc. I 129.
For the queenis propine [etc.] … and for the lokmanis leweray [£87 10s. 8d.] 1555 Aberd. B. Rec. I 293.
Ane compositioune, propyne and gratitud to owr said souerane lady … for reformatioune … of the hurtis 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 499.
For no rewarde, gyft nor propyne [: tyne] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5453.
Thay … Send him ane subtell hid propine Ib. 6505. 1561 Mill Mediæv. Plays 189.
For … furnissaris of the necessaris of the said banquet triumphe and propyne a1568 Scott xvi 18.
I suld hir mynd to mercy mufe With sic propyne a1578 Pitsc. I 239/4.
King Harie the sevint … promeisit with hir … vthir riche and costlie augmentatiounis and propynes to be gevin unto the King of Scotland 1605 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 225 (16 Dec.).
Ane smal propyne to vit sum of hir banokis 1610 Bamff Chart. 163.
[The whole tack duty] togidder with ane propyn yeirlie according to the quantitie of the saidis landis 1633 Stirling B. Rec. I 170. 1635 Lundie Poems 3.
The first goodmorroue … Procurs the first propine on neue yeirs day 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1671) 230.
I would wish … to love the bridegroom better than his gifts, his propines, or drink money 1641 Glasgow B. Rec. I 434.
That sume … cloathe, with sume plydes, be sent as a propyne to Maister Web, the duikis servand, as a testimonie of the tounes thankfulnes to him for his paines taine for the tounes bussines a1651 Calderwood II 154.
The Frenche were enriched with the propynes, which were givin by the touns verie liberallie a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 231 (see Propine v. 3 (2)).(b) 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxi.
The prouest … ordanit ane propyn in wyne, wax and spice to my lord of Abirdene 1570 Leslie 75.
To the king with guid horssis and uther riche propins 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV 445.
Propynnis 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1083.
He … with maist princelie ritche propyns Thame honors and rewards(c) 1570 Leslie 79.
Sic mutuall taikinnis and propoynes(d) 1603 Ellon Presb. 45.
[She had given] prophyns [to some of the brethren](3) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 169.
The sade Alexander sal … gyve to ws in name of propyne a ra or a buk … at the festis of ȝule or pasch 1509 Aberd. B. Rec. I 80.
Til our soverane lordis hienes, in propine, … vynis … schorcatis … torchis … prikatis and … vax 1535–6 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 74.
Fourty tunnis of wyne in propyne 1549–50 Treas. Acc. IX 376.
Quhilk his grace gaif to the gunnarris in propyne 1569 Wode's Psalter Fifth Bk. Notes.
Giffin in propyne to the kyng 1603 Moysie 53.
Sex horsse … delyverit to his majestie in propyne fra the queines majestie a1651 Calderwood V 98.
They [the Danish ambassadors] receaved in propines the worth of thretteene … thowsand crownes —1511 Treas. Acc. IV 271.
To the said three menstralez in ane propin … lix s. Ib. 276. 1511–12 Reg. Soltre 85.
Dedit in a propine to Dauid Betoun xliiij Franche crovnis or we gat our new confirmacioun … of our landis a1676 Guthry Mem. 89.
They borrowed [£50,000] … and sent it in a propyne to the general and his committee(4) 1563 Conv. Burghs I 530.
For furnesing of him [a prospective ambassador] … as alsua for propine or revaird 1599 Glasgow B. Rec. I 192.
Tua twnes of wyne … to serve for propyne to my lorde duike(5) 1594 Maxwell Mem. II 28.
[Acknowledging ten Wedders for the Prince's baptism] Wyte me gif ye be nocht put … in the buke of propynes(6) fig. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 445 (Asl.).
Than for to preif the wennomus propyne Off syn a1561 Norvell Meroure 32b.
I gat my iuste propyne [: wyne] a1568 Bann. MS 86b/73.
Sen vertew is the pretious propyne … of grite God 1587 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 39.
The propynis thai desyrit wes an good answer and hearty goodnight 1596 Dalr. II 74 marg.
Morayland receiues the sam selfe propyne in fyre 1600-1610 Melvill 270.
The bern … was my first propyne and hansell to heavin 1629 Boyd Last B. 372.
Sinfull pleasures which like faire ladies come with alluring propines to woo … the vnstable soule
b. Applied to a work of literature or the like viewed as an offering or gift.1513 Doug. v Prol. 52.
Hys febil proys beyn mank … Bot my propyne com from the pres fute hait [etc.] c1590 Fowler I 138/4.
These … lynes … belang to yow as dewe propynes 1598 Melvill Propine title.
A Spirituall Propyne of a Pastour to his People 1604-31 Craig i 2.
You shall be vnto the vulgar sort No fit propine, because not vnderstood a 1619 W. Cowper Heaven Opened (1631) ii Ded.
I haue conioyned your Maiesties in the participation of this small propine of the first fruits of my labours 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 128/113.
I … With pen and drinke compiled yowthis propine
