A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375-1432, 1499-1699
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Nyn(e, Nine, num. Also: nin, nayn(e, neyne. [ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. nin(e, nyn(e, earlier ME. also niȝen, neyen etc. (12th c.), nyen (13th c.), nien, neyne (14th c.) neine, nene (14–15th c.), OE. niᵹon.]
1. The cardinal number nine, in usual general uses.b. As a number of religious, and, esp., magical, significance.For the nine orders of angels, see Order n. 3; for the nine nobles, see also Nobill n.; for the nine Muses, see Muse n.1 1; and for the proverb Wonder lestis bot nyne nycht, see Nicht n. 2 (2).(a) 1367 Reg. Great S. 92/1.
Infra le Nyneacres a1400 Legends of the Saints iv. 22.
He purchasit discipulis nyne a1500 Golagros and Gawane 227.
And of the nobillest be-name, noumerit of nyne a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 961.
Within thay nyne nicht 1508 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II. 333.
For all the … termis of nyn yer 1519 Rec. Earld. Orkney 93.
The nyne penny land of Saba c1530-40 Stewart Bann. MS. 87 b/1.
Neir by the hour of nyne 15.. Wyf of Auchtirmuchty 45.
Scho lowsit oxin aucht or nyne 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3169.
Sum tyme may chance a man spend mair Upon ane day, nor he may spair To spend in vther nyne 1577 Murray Early Burgh Organisation I. 218.
Nyn 1581-1623 James VI Poems I. 21/35.
Her nynevoced mouth c1650 Spalding II. 321.
To nynescoir pundis 1659 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 185.
At half nyne hours at nicht 1678 Corshill Baron Ct. 147.
Nyn fall(b) 1398–9 Liber Melros 489.
At … quhissonday the yhere of our Lorde mccc nynety and nine 1428 Ib. 520.
Thai wer than twenty and nine 1593 Edinburgh Testaments XXV. 148.
Ane siluer pece … nine futit 1632 Lithgow Trav. 432.
The officious nine penny masse a1699 Skene Agric. MS.
Wheit wold never be nin nights out of the earth(c) 1601 Dundee Shipping P. 74.
For nayne hownder dokatis 1657 Wemyss Corr. 102.
At nayn aclok(d) 1679 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 318 (8 July).
Upon neyne dayes warningb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 117.
Quhen I heir nemmyt his name, than mak I nyne crocis 1590–1 Criminal Trials I. ii. 239.
The men wer turnit nyne tymes widderschinnes about 1597 Ib. II. 27, 28. 1623 Ib. III. 556; etc. 1623 Lanark Presb. 1.
2. As the ordinal number: Ninth. 1398–9 Liber Melros 490.
The nyne and tuenty day of the moneth of Feuerer 1432 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 285.
The nyne day of August 1510 Reg. Privy S. I. 330/2.
The nyne part of ane nettis fischin a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun iv.
In the nyne yeir of Henrie the first 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 218.
Upoun the nyn day of Julii
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"Nyn num.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 26 Apr 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/nyne>
