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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Change, Chainge, n. Also: chang, chayng(e. [ME. change (c 1300), chaunge, OF. change (AF. chaunge). See also Chenge n.]

1. (A) change or alteration.(a) c1420 Wynt. II. 1256.
In it ar changys sere, That ferlyffull ar for to here Ib. V. 2031.
He sped him sone, And off hys chang glayd and fayne, Till his fadyr 1456 Hay I. 268/17.
I can noch set na fassoun for changis efter the custumes of realmes c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxiv. 9.
Ffortoun sa fast hir quheill dois cary; … For quhois fals change suld none be sary Ib. lxvi. 23.
The change of warld fra weill to wo c1515 Asl. MS. I. 194/12.
The story here of war lang to tell, and of all vther nacionis, thair subiectionis, conquest and changis 1535 Stewart 45220.
Dreidand sum thing for haistie chang and newis c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv. 20.
I think this change is wonderus strange and nyce a1570-86 Maitl. F. cix. 4.
Ȝit wald I leif and byd ane change [Q. chainge], Thocht I be ald 1655 Douglas Chart. 338.
Being … seik in body, and looking daylie for my chang(b) 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I. 177.
Guldy placis … tha sal labour to cleynge with chayng and reneuyng of seyd a1578 Pitsc. I. 211/5.
The chainge of court and consperatioun a1585 Maitl. Q. xlii. 77.
O leving lord this chainge is wonder nyce 1611-57 Mure Misc. P. ii. 55.
I … Admir'd so quick a chainge from joy to woe

b. The change of the moon. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 432.
As the new mone, all pale, oppressit with change 1513 Doug. i. xi. 93.
The monys change and oblique cowrs sang he

2. Exchange of commodities; trade. 1456 Hay I. 135/19.
Had he done ony barat, … or maid othir way of change or merchandice tharof Ib. 220/15.
A burgeis [that] haldis change in Paris 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxxii.
Ane riche toun … quhair sum time wes gret change, be repair of uncouth marchandis 1533 Boece v. x. 183.
Scottis before that tyme vsit … the cunȝe of Romanis or Britouns in all thare change 1555 Peebles B. Rec. 223.
[They] will nocht cum and mak thair change, merchandice, and residence within the said burgh a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxviii. 15.
We haif na change within our burght Ib. 18.
The brosteris hes na change [Q. chainge] for aill 1597 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 197.
That na servants resave or gif owt or mak ony change without the knawledge of thair maisters

b. = Change house. 1609 Conv. Burghs II. 275.
As to the signis, to caus thair inhabitantis to haue the samyn hung … speciale sic as vsis ony kind of oistelrie or chainge 1610 Ib. 289.
Sik as vsis hostellarie and chaynge 1652 Lamont Diary 50.
He tooke vp a publicke change att his house in Cuper 1664 Ib. 170.
Johne Wischart, baylie of St Androus, who keiped the great change there

3. Exchange of one person or thing for another. 1375 Barb. xix. 379.
Bot of hym weill soyn chaynge [E. chang] wes maid For othir that men takyn had 1456 Wemyss Chart. 76.
First twiching the cossing and chang of all the said landis 1472 Lennox Mun. 86.
Lord Dernlee has … giffyn to me … in excambium, changis, and cofe, all and syndry his … landis of [etc.] a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 979.
Crist was accusit in presens of Pylat … Barrabas was fred, O change infortunat 1524 Rec. Earld. Orkney 421.
Ane chartir of tua merkis land … cumin be cosene and chaynge fra Mangnus Bolt to Henry, Lord Sinclair