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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.

Bargane, Bargain, n. Also: bargan, -gaine, -gayne, geyne, -gine, -gone; bargand; bergan, -gane, -gin. [ME. bargaine, -gayne, -geyn, bargan, bergayn (1330), OF. bargaine.]

1. Contention, conflict, combat, struggle.Very frequently used by Barbour, Wyntoun, Douglas, etc.(a) 1375 Barb. ii. 385.
This bargane neuir may langar last Ib. v. 236.
He sall nocht bruk it but bargane a1400 Leg. S. xl. 1320.
That vthire ma ensample tak Vith halouys bargane to mak 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccx.
In case that outhir controuersy or bargane happyn amang thair men c1420 Wynt. i. 762.
Fyrst he oysis wytht the tane Tyl hald wp fychtyng and bargane Ib. iii. 533.
He trawalyde mony day In wayth and were and in bargane 1432 Acts II. 21/2.
Quhat tym it happynis sic bargane to be in the burgh ande it be callit forthocht felony 1456 Hay I. 117/12.
Gif a knycht or capitane makis a grete bargane in the ost c1475 Wall. ii. 114.
Inglismen, that war in bargane boune To kepe the gait with speris rud and lang 1494 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 68.
Dyvers and mony barganis and tulyeis that hes bene committit … into this toune c1515 Asl. MS. I. 216/27.
This bargane was done on the north Inche of sanct Ihonston 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 76.
Addres ȝe thus to mak bargane onone? Ib. v. x. 86.
Thai … countyrfatis a chays In maner of bargane 1535 Stewart 16973.
Ane bitter bargane thair begouth belyve of nakit men a1568 Scott ii. 115.
Sym to haif bargan cowld nocht blin a1578 Pitsc. I. 48/25.
Johnne Gormak … sett wpon Schir William Ruthven … to haue slaine him self and raissit ane bargane 1600-1610 Melvill 531.
The Politicianis and Papistes … bussie to egge the bargaine 1626 Garden Worthies 78.
His feer in fight … In everie battell, bargane, & debeat(b) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 17.
Apperit … ane wickit and unnaturall bergane betwix two pepil Ib. II. 131.
We sal be in daily bergan of ennimes Id. Livy I. 71/12.
Followit ane richt sare and terribill bargane 1535 Stewart 20296.
Quhen tua houndis richt oft hes other preuit Into bergane Ib. 22500.
In rayit battell bergane for to byde 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 458.
Thay suld be fre … Frome toulȝe, bergane, and debait 1570 Sat. P. xvii. 77.
Suppose his mercy this bergane to vs brew

b. A wager. 1560 Peebles B. Rec. 262.
James Wilsone and Stene Robesone maid ane bargane and bonspule on this maner

2. A bargain or business transaction.1571 St. A. Baxter Bks. 41 (to mak ony bying or bargane of quhyt). 1578 Reg. Privy C. II. 681 (ony bargayne upoun the selling of thair victuallis). 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 72 (makand his bargand with a boy). 1618 Stirling B. Rec. I. 151 (the barganes offerit of thair mylnis). 1660 Sutherland Corr. 179 (our bargone of kous). 1684 Glamis Bk. Rec. 26 (the breaking of that bargone).