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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.

Chanoun, Chanon, n. Also: chanoune, -own(e, -owyn, chawnown; channoun(e, -owne, -on(e. [ME. chanoun (1393), OF. chanoine, L. canonicus. See also Chennon.]

1. A canon of a cathedral.For examples of blak, quhite, regular and secular chanoun(is) see these adjectives.(a) c1420 Wynt. vii. 922.
The chanownys … The quhilk ware browcht befor fra Scone, And in Saynt Andrewys kyrk war done Ib. 2915.
Leve the chanownys he gave till Agayne to mak electyown 1450 Peebles B. Rec. 15.
The ferd mes sal be of the Cors, with a collec for the Dene and the Chanownis 1456 Hay I. 152/17.
As is usit amang the chanounis prebendaris of Paris Ib. 223/27.
[If] the chanouns wald ches ane Inglisman to be archebischop 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 1.
Our sade Souerane Lordis counsale … [including] channounis of Murray, Abirdene, and Dunblane 1489 Wemyss Chart. 115.
Wilyame Laudere, chanowne of Dunkel 1497 Treas. Acc. I. 334.
To … the chanoune, that he had laid doune … to pur folk, ii s. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 53.
Thocht he come hame a new maid channoun 1531 Bell. Boece II. 220.
King Constantine … past to the abbay of Sanct Andros, and schuif him thair ane chanoun 1535 Stewart 60473.
No clerk also in kirk cathedrall Suld channoun be, … Without he war ane bachleir withaw In theologie or into canoun law 1548 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 258.
The provest … ordinit Alexr. Ruderford to deliuer … the mone he resauit fra channownes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4850.
As for thair monkis, thair chanounis, and thair freiris … I knaw nocht quhat to thair office efferis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 110/20.
Quhy will nocht ȝe chanounis, munkis, freris, preistis, nunnis keip the samin reull? 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 150.
Ȝe, my Kirk, … That purgit art of channoun, monk, and freir 1596 Dalr. II. 40/10.
That na man excepte first bachler … , in ony Cathedral kirk be admitted channoun(b) 1443 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 96.
It plesis the King … that the said colege joys the said kirkis … be speciale conditioune and consent of the said deyne, cheptur, and chanonys 1483 Rec. Earld. Orkney 196.
Before thir witnes, Master William Greves, channone, Sir William Duthe [etc.] 1491 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 482.
Our dene & said chanonis, bredeir of our cheptour 1506 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 693.
We bind & oblesis ws to wnderly the decret … of the cheptour of Dorno, our lord the bischop, dene, or ony vther channone 1509 Reg. Privy S. I. 295/2.
Respit maid … to him, his cathedrale kirk, the dene, chepture and channonis of the samyn 1531 Bell. Boece II. 310.
Angus, … schoif his heid in Halyrudhous, and deceissit ane channon thairof ?1549 Monro W. Isles 29.
Ane iyle callit Ornansay, … quhairin ther is ane monastery of chanons 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 23.
Thair was condempnit twa blak freris, ane channon, … ane preist and ane lawit man a1578 Pitsc. II. 57/19.
Wther small preistis, as gray freiris and blak freiris, chanonis, monkis, preistis Ib. 144/2.
Thair durst nocht … ane freir, monk or channon weir ane cull 1622-6 Bisset II. 422/13.
Dominik wes first a channon and now maid ane Dominican blak or preiching freir 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1881.
Our worthy wyse divyne And all his channons 1692 Conv. Burghs IV. 662.
Fortrose … being … formerly a kirk toune or the bishop and chanons seatt

2. Attrib. with baillie, bailliorie, croft, land. 1563 Montgomery Mem. 194.
The channone bailliorie of the channone land … with the channowne baillie seruice 1597 Misc. Spald. C. II. 140.
The said croft lyand amangis the said channoune croftis