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

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Saracen(e, -sen(e, -zen(e, n. and adj. Also: Sarasein, Sarracen(e, -zen(e, Sarazan(e; Sar(r)asin(e, -syn(e, -cine, -zine, -zyn(n, -zyne; Sarrezen(e; Sarisen(e, -scene, Saryzine, -zyn(e; Sarisiane; Sariazine; Sarzen(e, -zan(e; (Sazarene). [ME and e.m.E. sar(a)zin (both Cursor M.), Saracen, sarzyn (both Trevisa), sarysyne (Manning), Sarrazin (c1330), sarsyn (a1375), sarasene (Piers Plowman), sarseyne (Lydgate), sarezen (c1449), sarasin (Caxton), sarson (1519), OF sarrasin (1080 in Larousse), OE Sarracene pl., late L. Saracēni pl.]

A. noun. 1. A Saracen; an Arab or other Moslem opponent of the Crusaders.(a) 1375 Barb. i 140.
That was than in the haly land On Saracenys warrayand 1375 Ib. xx 348 (C).
Sarazenis [E. Saryzynys] 1375 Ib. 422.
Sarasenys a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii 905.
Sarasenis a1400 Ib. xxxvi 788.
Sarazanis c1420 Wynt. i 927.
Thar ar mony Saracenys [W. Sarazenis, C. Sarzanys], Ysmalytys, and Agarenys [etc.] c1450-2 Howlat 484. 1456 Hay I 104/32.
Suppos the Sarazenis and othir mistrowand folk hald nocht the poyntis of the Ewangele 1490 Irland Mir. I 26/36.
We are nocht his sonis be natur, bot be creacioune and ymage, as are the Saracenis ore the laf c1515 Asloan MS I 315/23. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 525 (Ch. & M.).
Sarazene [B. Sazarene, M. Saracine], symonyte provit pagane pronunciate 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2305 (Ch.).
Bot vicious men denude of charitie As feinȝeit fals flattrand Saracens c1552 Id. Mon. 5208. 1551 Hamilton Catechism 50.
Finally thou art made as ane pagan, Saracene or infidele and sall perische for evirmair 15.. Clariodus iii 322.
Saraseinis 1596 Dalr. I 340/4. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv 161.
The Sarazens are descended of Esau 1680 Mackenzie Science Herauldry 90.
His son kill'd a More, who came in with some Sarazens to infest Galloway(b) c1420 Wynt. v 5668.
Gret Machomete, That Sarracenys thaire prophete Held c1420 Ib. vi 250.
Sarracenes [W. Sarazenis, C. Sarzenes] 1456 Hay I 105/11.
Bot as to mak generale were agayn the Sarrazenis 1456 Ib. II 159/17.
Sa the Sarrazene sperit at the Jowe quhat lay he lyvit apon 1490 Irland Mir. II 82/32.
Infidelis as paganis Jowis Machometistis Sarracenis ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/2.
We cursis … all thai that helpis the Sarrazenis aganis Cristyn men a1538 Abell 52a.
The Sarrazenis ar circumcidit 1551 Hamilton Catechism 255.(c) 1375 Barb. xx 478 (E).
Sarazynys a1400 Legends of the Saints xxxiii 948.
Sarazynns ?1438 Alex. ii 2991.
Alexander … Sittand at the ches playand With ane Sarasyne a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 856.
Sarazine a1500 MS Rawl. Q. b. 4 fol. 91b.
The strang willis of Sarazynis 15.. Clariodus iii 43.
Sarasinis c1590 J. Stewart 18/105.
The Sarrasin, vith bittir brag and blast Hint out his sourd(d) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvi 1119.
Sarrezenis(e) 1375 Barb. xiii 324 (C).
On Sarisenis [E. Saryzynys] thre derenȝeis did he 1375 Ib. xx 404 (E).
The hey king of Balmeryne With mony a mody Saryzine [C. Sarasyne] c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5790.
Sariscene(f) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2195 (B).
Sum sayis ȝe ar a verry loun … Sum sayis ane fals Sarisiane [: certane](g) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi 653.
Fore Jow, Sariazine & Cristine man In thare degre lufit hyme thane

2. A pagan, a non-Christian more generally. c1420 Wynt. i 612 (W).
Sen God of mycht inclynit wes Till a Sarasyne [sc. Alexander the Great] throuch grace ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 72.
Julius Cesar … Saxounis [etc.] … All borne Sarazenis vtterlie 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 164/29.
I reffer the expositione of this text to the vniuersal Cristianite to iuge quhiddir that Inglismen be Sarrasyns or Cristin men

B. adj. Saracen; of or pertaining to the Saracens. 1456 Hay I 96/36.
Ane othir king, prince or emperour Sarrazene 1456 Ib. 246/2, etc. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 574.
Wrait nocht in Caldye language … Nor ȝit in to the language Sarazene c1552 Ib. 1777.
Than sum began for to speik Grew, Sum Duche, sum language Sarazyne