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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Romany, adj.² Also: -ey, -ye. [‘Of obscure origin’ (OED), but perh. the same word as Romanyadj.¹ and n. Palsgrave gives OF rommeine as rommenis, -ys, and explains it as ‘furs of Lombardy’, but C. R. Beard conjectures that it refers to Greek budge (Buge n.¹⁾, and that the confusion arose partly because this entered Europe through Venice.]Of Greek origin; Greek.In collocation with buge, etc.(1) 1495 Treas. Acc. I 227.
For Romany buge to lyne the sammyne gowne 1498 Halyb. 74.
A bred of Romany bowgh, cost 2 li. … Spanis bowgis, ilk bred cost 25 s. 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 16.
For lx Romany buge to it; ilk pece vij s. 1511 Ib. 198.
To lyne the kingis gowne of claith of gold agane Ȝule five skoir and tua Romany buge 1517 Lanark & R. 196.
Ane gown of russit lynit with Romany [ed. Roucany] buge 1526 Treas. Acc. V 295.
Romany buge skynnyis … the pece x s. 1531 Ib. VI 20.
Romaney 1533 Ib. 183.
Romanye 1539 Ib. VII 274.
vj dosane ane skyn les Romany buge … [£28 19 s.](2) 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV 19.
For l Romany skinnis … ilk pece iiij s. 1513 Ib. 427.
Half ane mantill of Romany banes 1522 Ib. V 194.
For iiij Romany skynnes of buge for the kingis colare

b. Romany violettis, Romany bush, ? names given to some kind of climbing plant, ? perh. a variety of ivy. 1590 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 394.
To ane sclaitter for dountaking the Romany vyolettis of the hye scole to cast athort the kirk 1682 Jedburgh B. Rec. MS 8 Sept.
The council taking into consideration how convenient it is that the old Romany bushes on the walls of the kirk be taken away