A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Betwene, prep. and adv. Also: betuen, -ene, betvene, bytwene, (bethwen), betwein, -eyn(e, betueene, -ein(e; betwin(e, -yn(e, betuin, betuynne, [ME. bi-, by-, betwene, ONhb. bitwén, -twíen, -twín, OMerc. bitwíon, -twéon.] Between.
1. prep. With reference to location.a1400 Leg. S. vii. 690 (betwyne hir handis twa). 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35 (betwene the chapellis). 1388 Bamff Chart. 22 (betuene the tua toftis). c1420 Wynt. i. 94 (betwene the Lomownde and Bennarty); Ib. 1398 (betwene Irland and Bretany). 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 122 (bethwen the land of the Wach … and the land of Wil Bulli). 1460 Lindores Abbey 159 (the stret betweyn the landis of … ). 1596 Dalr. I. 35/4 (land betueine thir twa mane fludes).
2. With reference to agreement, compacts, etc. 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2.
It is accordit betwene the Lord the Nevill … and the erles of Douglas … that [etc.] 1390 Acts I. 216/2.
A certane contract, made bytwene sir Malcolme of Dromonde and sir John of Swynton 1402 Reg. Panmure II. 183.
It is accordit betvene nobil men and mychty [etc.] c1420 Wynt. v. 488.
Betwene the Romanys and that kyng All thus than fell the fyrst anyng a1578 Pitsc. II. 8/4.
The haill contract of mariaige and pace betuin the twa realmes 1596 Dalr. I. 266/23.
This band, confirmet betuein Scotis and French
b. With reference to parentage.1395 Menzies Chart. MS. (the ayrys betwene thaim command). 1408 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 175 (the airis cumand betvene the said Alexander and Euffame).
3. With reference to dissension, division, etc.1385 Red. Bk. Grandtully I. 138* (the questyoun that wes betwene thaim); Ib. 139* (juge betwene the forsayde … ). 1402 Dundee Chart. 18 (debate bytwene the burowys of Perth and Dunde). c1420 Wynt. vi. 1104 (gret scysme ras betwene tha twa); Ib. vii. 1021 (a gret battaille wes betwene the Scottys and the Inglis). 1457 Peebles B. Rec. 125 (the curt suld decret hou it stud bethwen tham). 1500 Dunferm. B. Rec. 112 (the syd hegis to be partit betwene thaim). 1596 Dalr. II. 58 (sum causis of contentioun betuene the Chancellor and the Gouernour).
4. In verse freq. placed after the noun. c1420 Ratis R. 1042.
Luk nocht hir browis oft betwen a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 850.
Rude reknyng raise thair renkis betuene a1500 Bk. Chess 498.
His moder … askit fast this child and hir betwene Quhat was [etc.] a1500 Doug. K. Hart 624.
Ȝe sall … gif sentence ws betwene c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 133.
Ȝit leit I neuer that larbar my leggis ga betueene Ib. xix. 27.
Twa and twa sayis thame betwene Ib. xl. 28 (M).
Sic … thirst was thame betwene 15.. Clar. ii. 554.
Scho … thocht that he knew litill them betwine Ib. 1142.
Them betwine thair was ay rap for rap
5. adv. In an intermediate position; in or into the midst; among others or other things; mutually. a1500 Rauf C. 665.
Dyamountis full dantely dentit betwene a1500 Seven Sagis 1047.
Be thair takynnis thai knewe betwene a1500 Bk. Chess 1981.
This harlot … thocht to haue sanct Bernardis hors betwene c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 75.
Sanct Gabriell Dois go betwene fra hevinis glory To thame that ar in purgatory Ib. xlvii. 34.
I trest rewaird and thankis betuene 15.. Clar. iii. 1915.
Ȝe sall … gif me ȝour clothes againe, and tak myne betwine a1568 Scott i. 86.
Pilgrimes and palmaris past with thame betuene a1578 Pitsc. II. 48/7.
Gif thay had not gone betuene the soner, he had bene stikit
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Betwene prep., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/betwene>
