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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Revenew, -venue, n. Also: raven-, rewen-, revenn-; revin(n)-, rewyn-; rewein- and -u, -wie, -eu, -ou, -ow(e, -o, -oy. [Late ME and e.m.E. revenue (1427), e.m.E. also reven(n)ew yield, profits, etc., also revenine (1422), -venue (1532) = return to a place, OF revenu (masc.) or revenue (fem.) (1320 in Larousse) substantival use of p.p. of revenir to return.OED quotes Lord Holland (1760) as saying that stressing of the ‘first syllable of revenues … is after the Scotch pronunciation.’]

1. pl. Receipts from the various sources of wealth which, taken together, make up the income of an individual or corporation.(a) 1440 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 240.
All wardis, relevis [etc.] … and vther revenovs and profitis falland to vs 1452 Sc. Hist. Rev. LII 6.
Giff ony … offisaris can prufe upon me that I have ressavit ony soume of mone, renttis, revenoyis or ony maner of profittis utheris [etc.] 1467 Ayr B. Ct. 21 April.
And the todir ten pundis … to be takyn ȝerely of the first fermys & rewenous to be tane & rasit of the said burght 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 235/2.
His benefice, frutis, dewiteis, revennous, landis [etc.] 1540 Acts II 360/2.
The patrimonie of his croune and revenois tharof being [etc.] 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 234.
Anereasone to procure ane stay of the quene of Scottis reveneus growing in France, vpon hir dreurie 1673 Aberd. Council Lett. V 297.
Whither … by a monopolie or inhancing the trade of fishing, the kings revenues will be … impaired 1690 Misc. Hist. Soc. X 131.
To try how they have managed ther revenews and speceallie anent the money given for buying books to ther libraries [etc.] 1693 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 96.
Ane … legar book of the tounes revenewes(b) 1587 Acts III 440/1.
Of all vtheris landis … and revinnewis not annext to our croun 1640 Anal. Scot. I 390.
By occasioun of this warr your revinewis much wasted(c) c1615 Chron. Kings 27.
To pey the fourt pairt of all thair guiddis and reweinus to the Romanis in tributt

b. The yield of (belangand) a particular source of income. 1440 Acts II 55/2.
Al the froytis and revenowes belangand half the erldome of Marr … sal remayne withe the said lord on to the ische of the said terme 1500 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 219.
Thai sal pay the half of the reuenowis herȝeldis bluidweikis onla of fre forest to the said Maister Androw 1501 Exch. R. XII 235 n.
The said David Chalmerlane sall haue yerely … the hereyeldis, merchetis, the raveneuis of cowrttis 1596 Stirling Chart. 223.
Rewynwies of the Latter Fair sett to Stewyne Aikmane for aucht pondis monie

2. The income derived from property and possessions, esp. when large and unearned. 1535 Acts II 346/1.
Landit men of smallar rent and reuenew, big pelis and gret strenthis … for saifing of thare selfis [etc.] 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 294.
His majesteis yeirlie revenew and patrimony of his croun 1583 Misc. Bann. C. I 58.
His lynnige ancient, and reuennew greatest of any erle in Scotlande 1606 Chart. Coupar A. II 219.
With leist … hurt to the rent and revinew of the crown 1681 Purves Revenue Crown 26.
All persones detainers of his majestis revenew

3. A source of income. 1589 Conv. Burghs I 303.
Thatt the saidis commoun revenues befoir the setting thairof be rowpitt thre seuerall dayis c1615 Chron. Kings 57.
He buildit xv abayis … and indewit thaim with rewenus apertening to the crowne