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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Linkis, Lynk(i)s, n. pl. Also: -es, -s, lincks; linx, (linxis), lynx. [North. ME. lynkys (c 1250), e.m.E. linkes, OE. hlincas plur. of hlinc a rising ground, ridge, bank (whence also midl. and south. e.m.E. and mod. Eng. link and linch).]Like the feature itself, the word is very common in reference to places on the East coast, from Dunbar to Shetland, and for these our collection has over ninety examples. For the West coast, the word seems to be very sparsely recorded or perhaps almost unknown: for our only example, see (1), quot. Irvine.

A links: a stretch of comparatively level or gently undulating open, sandy ground having turf, bentgrass or gorse growing on it, normally near the seashore and commonly including sand-dunes.Also rarely applied to a similar stretch of open ground not by the sea: see (1), quot. 1684.Used for grazing, for maintaining rabbit-warrens, for musters and for sports, including golf (as, at Aberdeen, to play (? sc. golf) in the linkis). For some further examples, see Benty a., Coning n., Cuning n., Cuningar n. and Golf n.(1) 1453 Exch. R. V. 547.
Et de xxx s. de le lynkis de Leith 1487 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 42.
No catall sal haf pastour of gyrs apone the lynkis … except the flessouris wederis 1501 Acta Conc. III. 92.
The manys of Dunbar [etc.] … with the madowis lowis and linkis of the sammyn 1502 Orkney Rentals i. 8.
Sanday … , to pay for the linkis heir of xxx cunningis & xxx skynnis 1512 Exch. R. XIII. 421.
Et de vj^e cuniculis pro cuniculariis et le linkis de Dirltoun 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 22.
To Johne Blak for xxvi cartfull sand casting ande wynnyng in the lynkis of Leitht 1538–9 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 93.
At the warrenders of links bring thair awin cvnings to the merket and sell the samyn oppinly thairin 1541 Crim. Trials I. i. 256.
For the slaughter … committit vpone the linkis of Kincrag 1565–6 Reg. Privy S. V. ii. 75/2.
Littore marino lie lynkis sive cuniculariis [of Dunbar] 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 280.
At Munrose … was drevin into the sea a grit number of scheip, feiding vpoun the linkis thair and thair about 1593 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 85.
The commoun lynkis … hes bene cassin up and delvit be casting of feal thairupon 1600-1610 Melvill 21.
I haid bought a pennie-worthe of aples and … eatting the sam in the linkes [of Montrose] … I began to lope upe upon a litle sandie bray 1617 Orkney Sheriff Ct. Act Bk. 9.
That nae man hunt … nor shutt in uther menis linkis nor holmes 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 6.
About this toun[Dornoch] along the sea coast ther ar the fairest and largest linkes (or green feilds) of any pairt of Scotland, fitt for archery, goffing, ryding and all other exercise c1650 Spalding II. 322. 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 442.
Mr. Alexander Fraser, schoolmaster at Invernes, haveing given his scholars the play, he waited uppon them himselfe in the links 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 4.
Air … lyeth in Kyle, and hath pleasant fields or links about it 1684 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 122.
Togither also with the links comonly called Bruntsfield links or fore mure with the herds house and fold 1696 Aberd. Chart. 382.
The heads of the crofts betwixt the first holl of the links and Garvacks Wynd(b) 1514 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 93.
That euery man compeir upoun the linx efter noun 1553 Reg. Privy S. IV. 322/1.
Bellis land … with housis, yairdis, lynx, toftis, croftis … liand in the suilye of Eist Fentoun 1597 Reg. Great S. 200/2.
Croftam in … Futtye inter lie fludmark et arenas lie linx 1673 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 143.
The high way betwixt the thorne at Leith linx and the Abay hill — 1598–9 Exch. R. XXIII. 264.
The cayne cunningis of the eist and west linxis of Dunbar(2) 1575 Aberd. Eccles. Rec. 21.
Playing in the lynks 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 167.
The statute maid aganis the playeris in the linkis and at the kyillis during the time of the sermones 1625 Ib. III. 1.
In that some of thame uses gainging and playing in the linkes 1634 Aberd. Trades 218.
Ilk servant … [that] is vagaboundis on the Sabbath … be playing at lynks, kyillies, boulls [etc.]