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

Noneschankis, n. Also: noyn-, noun-, nown-, nun-, nwn- and -shanks, -sankys. [ME. nonschonches (1375–6), senches (1422–3), also nonechenche (a 1353), f. non(e None n.¹ and ME. schench, OE. scęnc, a drink. In Sc. appar. only in the quasi-pl. form.Cf. also late ME. and e.m.E. noonchyns (1422–3), nonsiens, nunc(h)ions (1591), nunchings (1592), etc., and e.m.E. nuncion (a 1591), nuncheon, etc.]

A light repast taken in the afternoon, corresponding to the modern ‘four hours’.Customarily granted as a ‘break’ to workmen, the usual collocation in our collections. 1394 Liber Aberbr. II. 43.
That day that he wyrkis he sal haf a penny til his noynsankys 1491 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I. 61.
In winter … to haif bot thair none shanks allanerly afternone and to remayne quhill day licht be gane 1508 Reg. Soltre 162.
To William Sclater and … ii men for xii dais dennar and noneschankis vi li. 1511–13 Rentale Dunkeld. (S.H.S.) 282.
Nwnschankis 1517 Treas. Acc. V. 121.
Nownschankis 1529 Stirling B. Rec. I. 135.
Haiffand ilk werk day ane half hour … to his disjone and ane othir half hour afor four houris eftyr none to his nunschankis 1536 Reg. Episc. Brechin. II. 318.
And to inter at ane hour efter none and wirk till four hours efter none and than to haf ane half hour to his none schankis and syne [etc.] 1552 Mill Mediæv. Plays 234.
To menstralis waigis novnschankis disiouns and for breyd and wyne 1556–7 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 73.
To the warkmen at the upsetting of the werk, daner and nown schankis, xij^s iiij^d 1598–9 Dundee Treas. Acc.
For iij mens morning drink & noynschankis the time 6 s.