Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Dans, Dance, v. Also: dawns, daunse, daunce. [ME. daunse, daunce, OF. danser, dancer.]

1. intr. To dance.(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 79.
To dans, pype, or syng c1450-2 Howlat 792.
Fair ladyis in ryngis, … Boith dansis and syngis a1500 Henr. Fab. 1402.
Swa come ane trip of myis … all dansand in ane gyis 1491 Treas. Acc. I. 179.
To the Spanȝeartis that dansyt before the King on the cawsay of Edinburgh c1500 Crying of Play 38.
Ay quhen he dansit, the warld wald schog 15.. Christis K. (B).
To dans thir damysellis thame dicht 1567 G. Ball. 109.
The hillis dansit and … lap lyke lambis a1585 Maitl. Q. viii. 9.
I haue na will to sing or dans For feir of England and of France(b) c1420 Wynt. v. 4044.
Damysellys yhong … Scho gert cum to dawns and play Ib. 4880.
Syngand and dawnsand with melodys 1456 Hay I. 287/1.
That he dauncis or syngis better na he dois a1500 Peblis to Play 98.
Se that our napre be quhyt, For we will dyn and daunce Thair out 1558-66 Knox II. 330.
He was assured, that the Queyne had daunced … till after mydnychtfig. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 50.
Captane Couttis and Mvre, and threttie other suddartis, daunced thair fill in cordis(c) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi. 261.
Syndry ritis … Til et, drink, syng, & dance 1549 Compl. 65/15.
Tha began to dance in ane ring c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxv. 68 (B).
That ȝe may … sing and dance Heir in to Edinburcht Ib. xlviii. 42.
Go se the birdis how thay sing and dance

2. tr. To perform (a specified dance). c1500-c1512 Dunb. liii. 24.
Thair he daunset the dirrie dantoun 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3651 (B).
We sail leir ȝow to dance … Ane new paven of France 1549 Compl. 66/14.
Dansand base dansis, … braulis and branglis a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvi. 21.
Euerilk man ȝow prayis … Throw ȝour rewis carreliis [to] dans and sing