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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1500-1657

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Heichnes, Heighnes(s, n. Also: hech-, (heih-), heych-, hiech-, hiegh-, hyech-, (hyeth-); hegh-, heygh-. [Northern ME. heghnesse (c 1340), early hehnesse, OE. héahnes.] Highness.

1. A complimentary title of a king, queen, or regent.(a) 1522 Doug. Corr. 86.
To sollist the Kingis hyechnes [pr. hyethnes] to that effecte
15.. Clariodus iii. 76.
Nocht this I say, ȝour heichnes to gainstand
1569 Reg. Morton I. 49.
Submitting our selffis haillie in ȝour heychnes protectioun
1593 Acts IV. 25/2.
That the said morowing gift micht be made gude to the quenis heichnes
1608 Highland P. III. 113.
According to ȝour Hiechnes derectioun
1608 Ib.
Ȝour Hechnes west Iyllandis
1614 Ib. 163.
I onle request ȝow to remembir his heichnes of this my fwlische adwys
(b) 1570 Leslie 293.
The Quenes heighnes of Scotland
1605 Elphinstone Chart. 151.
To the effect your heyghnes may tak sic other course with him
1605 Ib.
Your heghnes seruand
1609 Acts IV, 440/2.
All infeftmentis … ordourlie passit his heighnes caschet
1656 S. Leith Rec. 103.
His heighness the Lord protector
1657 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III. 459.
Before his hieghnes honorabill parliament

2. a. Altitude, height. b. Greatness, eminence. a1586 Lindsay MS. 25 b.
The faulcone … oftymes montis and turnis in grit heichnes
15.. Clariodus iii. 1194.
Diverse reports hes cumin to his eare Of ȝour great heighnes both in peace and weir

3. Haughtiness, arrogance, pride. (Heich adj. 8). = Hienes 3. a1538 Abell Chron. 116 b.
The comon woce is that had nocht bene hir heichnes the noble Erll of Angus had bene peceablie now in Scotland

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"Heichnes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/heichnes>

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