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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quhyn(e, Quhine, Quheyne, interrog. and rel. adv. [North. ME wheyn, quein (Cursor M.), qwyne, whyne (15th c.), contracted f. north. and midl. ME whethen, queþen etc. (12–13th c.), ON hvaðan, with assimil. of vowel to hethen Hyn(e, sethen Syne, thethen Thyne. Cf. Quhen adv.² and Quhence.] Whence.Also preceded by redundant fra or of.

A. interrog. 1. From where, from what place, of what origin. In a. direct, and b. indirect, questions.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xlii 25.
Quhyne art thu borne? 1456 Hay I 230/17.
Gude man, quhyne ar ȝe?(2) 1456 Hay II 7/32.
Fra quhyn ar ȝe cummyn, and quhare walde ȝe be? c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xiii 54.
Thai … said, Fra quhyne [P. Fro whennus] this wisdome and virtues cummis to this?b. (1) 1375 Barb. vii 240 (C) (see Quhen adv.² (a)). a1400 Leg. S. xviii 393.
Quhat, quhyne & of quhat state & for quhat cause, thu me late, Thu has bene sa lange tym here Ib. vii 376.
Quhyne Ib. xxxix 88. a1500 MS Rawl. Qb.4 fol. 92a.
It schawis a man quhat he is … And quhine he come(2) c1520-c1535 Nisbet John vii 28.
Ye knaw me, and ye knaw of quhyn [P. of whennus] I am Ib. viii 14.
For I wate fra quhyn [P. fro whennus] I com, and quhare I ga. Bot ye wate nocht quharfra I com Ib. vii 27.

2. transf. From what source, origin or cause. In indirect questions. a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 78.
Bot God thane purvoit tho that he Ferlyt quheyne that cumyne mycht be 1456 Hay I 66/17.
First, I spere quhyne come first jurisdiccioun? Ib. 66/19.
As belangand the first questioun, fra quhyne come jugement Ib. 77/27.
Tell me quhyne come the bataill betuix Jacob and Esau in thair moderis wame

B. 3. relative. Fra quhyne, = from which. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xii 44.
I sal turn agane into myn hous fra quhyne [P. fro whannys] I yede out Id. Luke xi 24.