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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.

Byknife, Byknyf(e, n. Also: -kniff, -knyff; bytknyw-, byteknyff. [By adv. 1.] A knife carried beside a dagger.The forms with byt are no doubt due to the pronunciation tnife for knife.(a) 1478 Acta Aud. 82/1.
A byknyf, vj d. 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 117.
To Robert, cutlair, for sperehedis, byknyffis, and othir stuft 1526 Reg. Privy S. I. 526/2.
The slauchter … committit apoun sudandte be the cast of ane by knyfe in lentryne last bipast 1546 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 237.
Item, iij by kniffis, the price of the pece, viij d. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 238/20.
In his hand it happinit him to haif His awin byknife 1567 Inverness B. Rec. I. 152.
To the teakin his byknyff was fundin at the said stak 1584 Sat. P. xlv. 455.
He … his byknyfe furth hes tane … And maid him tuentie tackis of ane 1597 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 390.
A helane durk with scheath and byknife 1666 Thanes of Cawdor 321.
For maiking ane by knife to your durk … for another by knife(b) 1590 Edinb. Test. XXII. 72 b.
xxij byt knywis price xxiiij s. 1595 Ib. XXVIII. 82.
Four dossoun byte knyffis at v s. the dossoun