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.
Quotation dates: 1506-1681
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Elsin(e, Elsing, Elson(e, n. Also: elsene, -syng, -soun, elschin, -shin(e, -sching, -shoe; alisone, alisoun; helsing. [ME. elsyn, -syng (c 1440), e.m.E. elsen, elson, MDu. elsene, elzen(e, Du. els.] An awl.(a) 1506 Treasurer's Accounts III. 388.
For ane elson to the King 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 176.
Ane kestrel and hand ledder with ane elson 1565 Treasurer's Accounts XI. 440.
Ane heid of hemp and twa elsingis to the cordinar 1589 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 130.
Elschingis, ane schaving irne, and ane hewing aix 1595 Duncan Appendix.
Subula, a cordoners elsine 1633 Edinburgh Testaments LVI. 123 b.
Small cramerie waires, viz. preines, neidellis, … elshines 1655 Peebles B. Rec. II. 26.
[The court] inflictes upon John Buchannane, for resett of elsines … xxx s. 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. ii. 9.
There lyes his elson and his lingle(b) 1597 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 390.
3 alisones
b. Attrib. with blade, heft, irne. 1577 Edinburgh Testaments V. 117 b.
Foure dosane of elsin blaidis — 1571 Edinburgh Testaments 192 b.
Ane [dozen] helsing helftis 1575 Ib. III. 384.
Elsene heftis and barnis quhissillis 1586 Ib. XV. 65 b.
Ane greit buist with cokis of barrellis and elsing heftis 1612 Bk. Rates 304.
Elsone heftis the groce 1633 Edinburgh Testaments LVI. 123 b.
Of small cramerie waires, viz. preines, … elshin heftis, bellis [etc.] — 1574 Edinburgh Testaments III. 93.
Ten dosane of elsene irnis 1589 Ib. XXI. 88 b.
Nyne elsoun irnes 1616 Ib. XLIX. 160 b.
Ane gwme of elschin irnes c1650 Spalding II. 423.
Ane alisoun iron 1654 Peebles B. Rec. II. 25.
John Buchanane, … accused for resett … of ten elsine yrones 1674 Argyll Justic Rec. I. 34.
Some knyves, sheirs, elshoe [sic] irones
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"Elsin n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/elsine>
