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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)hrink, Schrenk(e, v. Also: schrynk, shrinke; shrunke. P.t. schrinkit, -et, schrynkit, schrenkit; shronke. P.p. shrunke. [ME and e.m.E. scrinkin (c1205), schrinke(n (c1275), shrenck (a1425), p.t. schrank (14th c.), schronk (Chaucer), p.p. shronke (Caxton), shrunk (1540), OE scrincan (scranc, scruncon, -scruncen).]

1. intr. To fail in courage or spirit; to remain inactive; to hesitate (to do something).(1) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 134 (A).
Quhar that ȝe schrenke I haue ane sonȝe sone 1596 Dalr. I 313/10.
The kingis capitane was sa hartles at the sycht of sik a multitude, that he schrinket and stude(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 231 (Asl.).
Ȝe schrenk nocht to trespas 1513 Doug. i Prol. 189.
Nor Caxtoun schrynkis nocht siclyke thingis to tell Ib. 479.
I schrynk nocht anys correkkit for tobe With ony wight grundit on cherite 1562-3 Winȝet I 28/9.
For Johne Knox and his scolers schrynkis not to rail and lie 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii 155.
As men recordis, in deid, my lordis, I schrink not for to schaw

b. Const. for, with, also at (the cause of hesitation or inaction).(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2281.
Ane lord … That schrinkis for schame or doutis to be repruuit His sau is ay als sickker as his seill a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1077.
The sege that schrenkis for na schame, the schent might hym schend 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 19.
Thar is na sege for na schame that schrynkis at schort Ib. xi Prol. 105.
Stand at defens and schrynk not for a schor a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 493 (W).
Now schrink not for ane schoure 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxxvi.
He … vald … nevir shrink for cauld(2) 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 140.
Quhy schrynkis thou with my schort Cristyn wark? 1533 Bell. Livy I 137/6.
The fader Brutus na thing schrynkit with the cruell punycioun maid on his sonnys, bot … beheld the punycioun made on thame 1563 G. Hay Confutation Abbot Crosraguel 45b.
Here James shrinketh with the mater, and is introduced, improuing the allegation of the wordes(3) 1533 Boece 248b.
At thir chargis diuers Britouns schrenkit c1600 Montg. Suppl. i 17.
In Luifis court quha listis to duell At euerye schoure thai may nocht schrink

c. Of someone's courage: To fail. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 155/149.
The telȝouris curage a littill schrenkit, His hairt did all ourcast

2. To draw back from physical contact, assault or inflicted pain; to recoil, flinch. Also const. for or at the pain, etc.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 110.
I schrenk for the scharp stound bot schout dar I nought For schore of that auld schrew 1513 Doug. x viii 115.
Pallas, nocht schrynkand for the mortale dynt(2) 15.. Clar. iv 2118.
He … pullit at the arrow … The knight full sore [ed. sorelie] schrinkit at the stound 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 222.
At all which tormentes notwithstanding, the doctor never shronke anie whit; neither woulde he then confesse it the sooner 1609 Grahame Anat. Hum. 6b.
Let him who is hulcerus shrink at his owne smart, when his sores are serst 1618 Trial Isobel Inch 15.
Isobell … sufferit above threttie stanes of yron to be laid on hir leggis, never schrinking thairat in ony sort 1629 Justiciary Cases I 140.
Servandis in the tolbuth quha saw ane prene put to the heid … in the pannellis schoulder … and na bluid following nor scho no wayis schrinking thairat(3) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 1494 (Asl.).
Herfor marthyris that plesand compering Vnto thair panis thai schrenkit on na wys … Blythlie thair blude to sched 1533 Bell. Livy I 162/1.
Than Tarquyne to eschew his dynt sum parte schrinkit 1535 Stewart 9600.
Wemen now … Quhilk sall nocht schrink quhair nakit swordis ar drawin 1540 Lynd. Sat. 490 (Ch.).
Sho will not schrink thocht ȝe kis hir ane span within the baird a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 479 (W).
Quhy suld he [sc. a patient] loup quhan he is lanceit, Or schrink [Wr. shrinke] quhen he is schorne? c1590 J. Stewart MS fol. 37a.
In his armes ane proper pucelle gent, Quhamvith perforce trottane away he vent. Scho quhryns [ed. 54/62 quhyns], scho schrinks, scho vrethis, scho vips for vo

3. a. To move back, retreat (within a hiding-place). a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 330 (W).
How Daphne did Within the laurell schrink, Quhan from Appollo scho hir hid

b. To move away furtively; to slip away (from a person); to abandon; to desert. c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 53.
The rest of his followers being discouraged by there departure, begane that night to shrunke away, and shift for themselfes ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 274.
So many foote and horse wer shrunke from him, that [etc.]

4. fig. In senses 2 and 3 b.To schrink (bak) fre, from. c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii 130.
Se that no ryches … Mak ws schrink bak now frome the veritie a1578 Pitsc. I 311/30.
The panis of that torment war not the occasioun to cause him suerue or schrink fre ony pairt of his faitht in Christ Jessus 1584 Argyll Fam. Lett. 68.
That thai neuer suarf nor schrink bak frome the treu religioun of Jesus Cryst

5. tr. To shun, avoid. 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 61.
The schipman schrenkis the schour and settis to schor

6. To draw back (a part of the body), as in flinching. But perhaps a further example of 2 above. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2143.
And luke ȝour ene be clois, as thay wer out, And se that ȝe schrink nouther fute nor heid