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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wyndo(w, Wyndok, n. Also: wyndowe, -ou, -ew, windo(w, -owe, -oue, -oe, -oy, vyndo(w, vindo(w, wondo(w, -ou, wendo, wundo, wndow, wyndoke, -ock, -ak, windo(c)k, -ick, vyndok, vindo(c)k, -ak, wondok(e, -ock, vondok, woindok, woundok, windoch, wendoch(t, winnock, (vyndocket). [ME and e.m.E. windohe (Ancr. R.), windoȝe (c1250), windo (Cursor M.), wondowe (c1380), wyndow(n (both Wyclif), wyndew (14th c.), wyndo (1419), window (1533), windowe (1575), ON vindauga (whence MIr. fuindeog, Gael. uinneag). Cf. Windoore n.]For the phonological development cf. Elbo n., Elbok n. and Warlo(c)k(e n.

1. A window. a. The aperture in the wall of a building, etc.; the surrounding, prepared stonework, etc. b. The open framework of iron or wood filling the aperture, along with the glass, etc. sometimes, later usually, so supported; also applied to the wooden internal surround and shutters. Cf. Licht n.¹ 6. Also in fig. context.a., b. 1375 Barb. xii 402.
The folk that was In the castell … went full ner all that thai war And durs and wyndowys [C. vyndowis] with thaim bar, Swa that thai had befor the day Briggyt the pulis a1400 Leg. S. xlv 35.
In a wyndo scho lad it by, & it hyd thare ful craftfully a1400 Leg. S. xlix 16.
Wyndou 1399 Aberd. B. Rec. I 377.
The forsaid masonys sale hew … xii durris and xii wyndowys, in fre tailly a1500 Lanc. 2833.
The lady to hyme maid … his couche and gart be had Be-fore o wyndew thore as he mycht se … the assemble 1502 Treas. Acc. II 269.
To William Turnbull, masoun, in pairt of payment of his task of the gallory and windois in Halyrudhous xiij li. vj s. viiij d. 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 268.
xliiij elne sey to be courtingis for the quenis chalmer win[do] 1540–1 Aberd. B. Rec. I 174.
For the mending of all the holis of thair kirk vindois c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1386.
This ark … Quharein thare wes ane wyndo maid, Sum sayis, weill closit with christall cleir, Quharethrouch the day lycht mycht weil appeir 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6074.
The king … Opinit windois and saw the fair day licht 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 481 51.
Vyndois 1560–1 Edinb. Old Acc. II 144 (see Plate n.¹ 2 b). 1561 Edinb. Old Acc. II 153.
To Johnne Inglis, masoun, for breiking of the wall and beigeinge of the said windo … for careing of the sklattis fre the kirk for theiking of the wyndo … for … naillis to the loft of the wyndo, windo skewis and necessaris tharof 1562 Edinb. Old Acc. I 397.
For ane gryt stane to be ane lintall to the new wyndowe 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 75.
Tua wyndois callyt nether wyndois … with tua ovir wyndois 1613 Wemyss of Bogie MSS
Windoe 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 44.
For sex Ireland buirdis to be pannelling to the windowes xl s. 1620 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 109 (21 June).
For making sewin pair off bandis to the scuill windowis 1623 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 281.
Vindowis 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 47.
Four hich windowes, with thair slotis, thrie laich windowes, with yron stancheons 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII 304.
The Great Hall … wherein lakes sex brods for the windoues 1697 Irvine Mun. II 315.
22 lozens in windows in the church(b) 1529 Edinb. Hammermen 126b.
Wondo 1574 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 40a.
To James Hunter … for mending of the wondois of the kirk(c) 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 295.
The expensis of the temerwark of the wendois and the camis to the said wendochis in the Palic of Sterweling(d) 1567 Crim. Trials I ii 499.
Thare was nane but ane wundo quhilk wes within the clois(e) 1492 Treas. Acc. I 200.
Gevin … for Estland burdis to durris and wyndokis … v li. 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 73.
Tua bandis to the court cophous windok 1532 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) No. 5.
v windokis of irne 1536–7 Ayr B. Acc. 20.
For putting of the irnis and slipponis in the wyndokis 1548 Aberd. B. Rec. I 260.
He hes … put away the cuppillis and tymmer of … thir houssis and the durris, vyndokis, insicht and plenising 1549 Aberd. B. Rec. I 271, 272.
For the strublance of Duncane Freser, and ryving of his tirleise of his vyndok … And als to mend the skayth done he him to the said Freseris tirleis and vindak 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 220.
He had … aduertist tham that the eist gavill windok … wes abill to fall downe 1559 Dunferm. Ann. 201.
That neither the dasks, windocks, nor durris be ony ways hurt or broken, eyther glassin [pr. glass in] work or iron wark 1570 Leslie 221.
Wyndock 1574–5 Haddington Treas. Acc. 8.
Wyndoke 1585 Elgin Rec. II 4.
The eldaris … ordanit him to repair the north windok forgain the pulpeit sufficientlie with glas c1590 J. Stewart 89/326.
Depaint on posts and vindocks of the hall, On durs, on tabils, and on euerie vall, Both Angelique and Medor schyphert beine 1591 Crim. Trials I ii 254.
The said Mr. Johnneis kiching windok 1613–14 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 350.
In the quenes kitching ane windok augmentit vii fute of new glas and latcheting it xxxvi s. 1660 Nicolson Diurnals 3 Aug.
Mending the galrey windock 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 432.
To George Porteous painter … for the 3 great windocks green … and the chimly whyt, £24 1682 Lanark B. Rec. 210.
Furthwith ther be ports provydit … to witt the West port, East port, Welgaitt port and Castlegaitt port, with windicks(f) 1531 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 115.
We dischargis all nycht waikeris … keykaris or luikaris under vondokis and durris to be put in the stokis 1532 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 127.
We ordand Woll of Cadȝou to tak his awin vondok furtht of the vall and syne to mak the vall als gud agane 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 294.
For the makeing of ane band to the meid chalmer wondok 1565 Hay Fleming The Reformation in Scotland (1910) 611.
The sellar undir the hall woindok 1611 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 336.
For poynting of scercementes and for poynting of wondokes 1611 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 338.
In the fore wark above the yet twa wondokes taken downe and mended with ane leven [sic] feit of new glas and throttene of auld glas sett into new leid 1640 S. Leith Rec. 33/2.
The sessione ordains the thesaurer to mend the wondocks of the Gramer Scooll … to the contentment of the maister(g) 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II 337.
The woundokkis mending round about the kirk 1552–3 Edinb. Old Acc. I 75.
Ane woundok above the nether portell of the counsalhous(h) 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 295.
The expenssis of … the mending of beteng of wendochis … rasavit fra the glasenwrycht tua futtis of now glais and put in the chappell wendocht(i) c1560 Sc. Ant. VII 104.
Tak guid heid that neither the dasks, windochs [Hawick Arch. Soc. (1911) 14, winnocks], or durris be ony ways hurt or broken, either glassin wark or iron warkfig. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 118.
We suld forbeir all occasionis of syn … keip … all our wittis fra all abusionis quhair throch as wyndokis, deade enteris into our saule

c. With qualifier indicating the type or structure of the window. Also, in plait wyndok, (Plate n.¹ 2) prepared as a framework for a window.See also archer window (Archar n. 2), bos window (Bos adj. 2), Case windo(k n., Casit adj., Glas n. 3, Glasin adj., Irne n. 4 a, Storm(e)-windo(w n. for further examples.(l) 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 409.
To reparall the glasyn wyndois in the abbay of Sanctandros 1541 Treas. Acc. VIII 37.
For ane irn wyndo tane to the warke of Striveling 1563 Edinb. Old Acc. I 440.
Windoyis 1612 Jurid. Rev. X 466 (see 2 b (1) below).
Windo 1639 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 398.
For poynting the south towre … with ane runruff and twa storme wondowis … ix lib. c1650 Spalding I 277.
Thay … violentlie brak doun the fair glassin windois(b) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 459.
Windokkis 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 218.
ix bund plett irne wyndokis to the ix lychtis of the lath chalmeris under the chapell 1547 Aberd. B. Rec. I 249.
For keiping of the glassin vindokis of thair kirk 1582 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 73.
That William Bining mak the Kirk and glaissin windokis clene ilk Setterday at ewin 1611 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 339.
For ane caiswondoke and brodis makeing to this same chalmer xxx s.(c) 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. II 86.
Twa glas lockettis to the glas vyndockettis [sic] of the queir … iij s. v d.(2) 1529–30 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 7.
For xxii stanis and ane half maid irne werk in plait wyndok to the southt lycht

2. The window of a. A shop, used to display goods. b. A public building, chiefly the tolbooth (Tolbuth(e n. 2 a, q.v. for further examples) or town hall, used to announce the names of those summoned to appear before a court, etc. Also, chekker hous windo.a. 14.. Burgh Laws c. 50 (A).
He at makis brede to sell sall nocht couer it bot do it in the window or ellis in the merkat sa at it may be sene cunnabily [etc.] 14.. Acts I 33/2.
Quha that wyl sell flesche … he sal sett his flesche opynly in his wyndow that it be sene communly till al men that will tharof(b) 14.. Burgh Laws c. 54 (A).
Ilk broustar sal doo a takyn of alle without hyr hous thru hyr wndow or the dur at it be sene til all comone of the cunte(c) 1551 Edinb. B. Rec. II 160.
That na maner of parsoun … set ony geir or burdis … outwith thair buith duris or windokis to be sauldb. (1) 1569 Treas. Acc. XII 164.
To the schereff officiar of Abirdene for … calling of the names that wes to pas upoun pannell at the windo of the tolbuith thairof 1587–8 Perth Guildry 411.
The forsaidis haill personis lachfullie summond as said is being opinlie proclamit at the tolboith windo 1612 Jurid. Rev. X 466.
Margret Alexander … now enterit in pannell in the bosse windo of the Tolbuth(b) 1546 Ruddiman Epist. 368.
Thai be thameselffis, nor nane utheris in their names comperand … thai being of tymes callit at the tolbuyth windok to the samyn effect 1569–70 Canongate Ct. Bk. 153.
Na pairtie comperit to obiect aganis the said breif thai being thris callit at the Tolbuith windok as us is 1584 Crim. Trials I ii 127.
The haill persones defendaris abonewrittine, being diuersse and syndrie tymes callit at the tolbuith windok, to haue comperit and ansuerit to the said summondis 1593 Acts IV 6/2.
The said burrowis and barroneis within ewerie schyre being callit at the tolbuith windok to produce thair sufficient commissiounes of parliament(2) 1582–3 Exch. R. XXI 556.
To denunce tham rebellis and put thame to the horne, as at mair lenth is contenit in the saidis lettres [etc.] … quhilkis lettres being callit in presens of the saidis lordis auditouris at the chekker hous windo eftir that the dayis assignit to every ane of the personis above writtin and nane of thame comperand to [etc.]

3. transf. An opening which resembles a window in some way. a. An opening or slash in a garment. b. An opening or breach in a barrier. c. An opening in a tank to allow rainwater to collect.a. 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 250.
For ane quartar satin crammesy to the windois of the kingis doublat xvj s. iij d.b. 1513 Doug. ii viii 76.
Syne the hard burdis he hakkis And throu the ȝet ane large wyndo makkisc. 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii 317.
Channels … which when scoured, of filth and wormes and the water become cleare, then euery house openeth their cisterne window, and receiueth as much water, as is able to suffice them till the next inundation

4. comb. a. With hinging, a window curtain. 1691 Brechin Test. VIII 41b.
Window hingings of linnen suitable to the bed lynning

b. With band, bred, brod, caice, nail, skew, tymmer, etc. referring to some part of a window or material used in its construction. Cf. Bred n.¹ 2, Brod n.² 4 and later dial. window bro(a)d, a window-shutter (SND, s.v. Window n. II 1 (3)). See Lid n. 1 b for a further example. Cf. Wyndskew n. with which there may be some confusion. See also Cas(e n.² 2 a.(1) 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 109.
For ane pair of wyndo bandis to ane langsadill 1551 Treas. Acc. X 34.
Maister Andro send to Hammyltoun witht xl pair of wyndo bandis 1637 Kirkcaldy Presb. 119.
For windoe bands and slotts 1663 Galloway P. 2 July.
Worke that belongs to a smith … such as … dressing of locks and making and mending of wondou bands(2) 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 76.
Tua pundis of horne glew for glewin of certane pannalis and wyndo breddis 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 354.
For iij dousing of fir burdis to be durris and vindo breddis 1563–4 Edinb. Old Acc. I 448.
Ane futt gang and v traistis to meit and hinge the wyndow broidis 1616–18 Macgibbon & Ross V 549.
For carveing of dyvers window brods 1653 Soc. Ant. XXIII 305.
Two window brods and two cutts of dealls therin 1676 Lanark Presb. 111.
To mak it a sufficient manse … with new theiking, glass, window broads(b) 1546 Treas. Acc. VIII 453.
Wyndak breddis 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 295.
For the makeng of tua wendocht brodis … iiii s. 1613–14 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 342.
For making of tua grit double windok brodis(3) 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 143.
Uthir decormentis belonging to the said hous as window caices and uthir particulares requisit for that effect 1691 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 219.
Doors, windows and window cases(4) 1628 Stirling Ant. IV 188.
The said Steine Maltman … cutted ane peace [sc. of cheese] … and gart lay it on the … window head(5) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 294.
For wyndo nalis to the crelis xx d. 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 110.
For wyndo nalis … xx d. 1597 Edinb. Test. XXXI 104a.
Thrie thousand windo naillis price of the hundretht xiij s. iiij d.(b) 1513 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 281.
Lie windok naile 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 72.
For i^c windok naill viii d. 1611 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 339.
For small wondoke naills that nailled the caisis of the wondoks whair they mesterit vi s. 1633 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 378.
Ane thowsand windock naill at iiii s. the hundereth(6) 1561 Edinb. Old Acc. II 153 (see 1 (a) above). 1561 Edinb. Old Acc. II 154.
For xxv futtis of new glass to the windo and windo skewis … xxxvij s. vj d. … ane stane and ane quarter wecht bandis of irne to the windo and windo skewis … xvj s. viij d. 1561 Edinb. Old Acc. II 156.
For making of ane case of tymmer for the said windok, and for mending and clewing of the haill windo skewis of the steipill viij s.(7) 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS 7 May.
For a peke of lyme to the Pledghouse windowe stan 1 s.(8) 1581–2 Misc. Spald. C. V 53.
For making of the brist of the vyndok tymmer

c. attrib. With -schot a shot from an elf-arrow taken through a window (S(c)hot n.¹ 10), -set (cf. Set v. 34 c (2)) furnished with windows.(1) 1607 Crim. Trials II 536 (see S(c)hot n.¹ 10).(2) 1632 Lithgow Trav. x 443.
This palatiat doyster is quadrangled foure stories high, the vppermost whereof, is window-set in the blew tecture