A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Sink, n.2 [ME sink (pors) (1297), repr. of cink (porz) five ports, L. quinque five.] The numeral five. a. To set on sink and sice, ? to put at risk, to hazard. b. ? A setting with five jewels in it. c. Sink portis: lit. ‘five ports’, i.e. ports of major strategic importance, by analogy with the Cinque Ports of south-eastern England. — a. See Sice n. 2, and cf. Cincq n. —b. 1636 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXXII 219.
Thomas sauld to him ane sink of diamonds pryce thareof ane hundreth punds … ane table diamond [etc.] —c. 1662 Nicoll Diary 361.
The King of Portungall … to delyver up … two cheiff sink portis in Portungall … to his Majestie of Great Britane … for victualing and provisioun of [his] … schips
