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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Mint, n.¹ Also: minte, mynt; menthe. [North. and north midl. ME. mint (Cursor M.), mynt, north-western munt, f. Mint v. After the 14th c. chiefly or only Sc., and in the mod. dial. Sc. and north. Eng.]

1. A bodily movement preparatory to striking a blow or as if to strike or attack, a threatening movement or gesture.Freq. to mak a mint or mints.(a) 1513 Doug. v. viii. 12.
Now bendis he vp hys burdon with a mynt 1560 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. XXIV (Jam.).
He grantit that he gaif him ignorantly a mynt of ane cuf 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 295.
The Lord … maketh not a mynt against his enemies, but he layeth on also a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 257.
Efter lang mint, never dint 1600-1610 Melvill 273.
His brother and brother-in-law … making a mint, maid the lown to flie 1611 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 20.
Not so muche as ane mynt or. showe of persute intendit aganis thame 1614 Lanark B. Rec. 121.
He being fwl of drink makes ane schove or ane mint to me 1625 Garden Kings 31.
Hostill mints with martial might he meits 1646 J. Hope Diary 148.
A beast … made a mint at me but did me no harme(b) 1617 Mar & Kellie MSS. Suppl. 77.
Immediatly somme of Marke d'Antre men mead ane menthe to ther sourdes

b. An attempt to injure someone, an attack or threat of attack. 1558-66 Knox I. 80.
But the mynt maid to his curteouris and that bald repulse of his desyres gevin to him in his awin face so wounded his proud harte [etc.] a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1158 (Wr.).
‘Yet’, quoth Experience, ‘at thee Make many mints I may’

2. A purposive movement of the body, a movement to do something or as if to do something. Also fig. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1110.
Sa in hir armes diuers times scho hynt, Him to haue kist, to his mouth maid ane mynt 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 124.
Johne Watsone, … being asked whois man he was, made a mint to speike ‘Mr. Knoxis servant’, but corrected him self c1616 Hume Orthog. 12.
Yal, [is] a guttural sound, made be a mynt of the midle tongue to the roofe of the mouth Ib. 17.
But w and y maekes sae soft a mynt that it is hard to perceave Ib. 18. 1629 Boyd Last B. 68.
My soule … is like a pulled foule … It may well nod with its head, and make a mint with the stumpts of its wingsfig. 1524 Q. Margaret in St. P. Henry VIII IV. 168.
And in thyz behalfe I desyr to be aswryd of the Kyngs Grace, vhat I sal trast to, and not dayly to make mynttyz of hyz comyng

3. An attempt or endeavour; an essay, an effort.Commonly, to make a (sum etc.) mynt.(1) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1344.
Becaus that monstour he hes maid sic ane mynt, With my bedstaff that dastard beiris ane dynt 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 361.
He … Brocht thame to miserie [who] maid ane mynt to wrang vs 1601 Crim. Trials II. 358.
Sum contentious wordis … quhairwith he wes movit to mak sum mynt for revange thairof 1603 Philotus lxxv.
Make I ane mint and do na mair, I may for euer murne c1610 Melville Mem. 135.
Wha efter that they had maid a mynt to tak the Lord Darley in the Quenis company 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 195. 1657 Hay Diary 96.
It is but a mint at the best that the saints mak that the lambs praise 1662 Wodrow Hist. (1828) I. 253. 1675 Sel. Biog. II. 184.
Nor made I ever any extraordinary mint to seek God but I found something extraordinary 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 45.
Many a mint to get a clift of a craig to save themselfes 1676 Welsh Gospel Summonds 15.
Them that has made many mints but never came cleanly off in the doing of it Ib. 20.Ib. 26.
He will help you … and ye would but make a mint at it(2) 1592 Warrender P. II. 175.
Besydes monye other detestable practizes and mintes quhilk God of His great mercye hes discovered & disappointed c1616 Hume Orthog. 3.
Thus beseeking your grace to accep my mint, and pardon my miss 1633 Johnston Diary I. 145.
A chylds mynt pleaseth ane loving fayther quho taketh ever the wii for the dead