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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sconce, Scons(e, n.¹ Also: sconss(e, skonce, skons(s)(e; scounce; skans. [e.m.E. sconse (1571), scance (1598), Du. schans, in early mod. Du. also schantze, schentze (screen of) brushwood, earthwork.]

1. A fire screen for use in a house; a protective screen, partition or wall. 1533 Treas. Acc. VI 84.
xx plaitis of quhyte irne to be ane skons to the chymnay in the kingis chalmer 1552 Ib. X 143.
vj hors … witht … certane chyris, stulis and sconsis furth of Edinburgh to Hammiltoun 1633 M. Works Acc. II 348.
To the biggeres of the skonces of the kitcheing 1651 Edinb. Test. LXV 203.
Ane sconce for standing befor ane fyre

b. ? A protective outside-wall. 1599 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 366.
The … counsall … grants … to Thomas Haw burges … libertie … to sett furthe and big stairis and skonsses on the north eist and southe quarteris of his rowme at the croce as [sic] the same and corballis set furthe be him to that effect

c. A screen (? made of wattles) to protect an outdoor fire from the wind. 1645–6 J. Hope Diary (1958) 152.
[In making charcoal] Note that ther must be liewes or skonses … betwixt the wynde and the pyle or fyre

2. A parapet or palisade raised as a defence-work; an earthwork; a temporary fort.(a) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 142.
As the pioners had … erectit a braid sconce to hyde thame, the soldiors of the castell … set the sconce on fyre 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 104.
The enimie past the riuer at a sconce, besid Boysinbruch, 7 Duit[c]h mil aboue Hambrugh, which fort was maintained be 4 compagnies of Scotsmen 1630 Skene Mem. 199.
With power … to build … castellis touris fortalices forthis blockhoussis skonses rampires and bulwarkis 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. 49.
What mean these skonses, and these hollow trenches, Throughout these fallow fields 1638–9 Misc. Spald. C. V 153.
For dailles and trees to be sconses 1639 Aberd. B. Rec. III 187.
Nightboures … wha prowydit for the sconsses and fortificatiounes … within and about the toune c1650 Spalding I 142.
And vpone the south syde of the toun thay raisit wp tymber sconses anent the loche, cled with daillis, quhairby the tounes muskiteiris micht saiflie stand and molest the enemy. Thay had the lyke sconses at the Gallowget Port vpone the hill. Thay had ellevin peice of ordinance … ilk peice haueing ane tymber sconss set wp for soldiouris to defend the samen a1686 Turner Mem. 117.
They surprisd a sconce called Burg, which the Sueds had taken from them(b) 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 68.
The baillies and counsale ordanis ane skans or barres of tymber to be set vp before the castell

b. A protective wall or barrier. c1650 Spalding II 357.
He causit burne wp his awin stables [etc.] … lest the same sould be ane sconss or refuge to his enemeis 1683 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 74.
[The report on] the dam head and slous and sconce of the over dam of the watter of Leith milnes … the said sconce and slouse of the said dame is defective and neids reparation

c. ? A screen, partition or the like designed to act as an obstruction. 1623 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 141.
Complaint … agains James Reid … for putting up ane scons of tymer fornent the dure in the wester gavill of the barne

3. A shelter; a shed.Cf. later Sc. dial. = ‘a shed used by masons as a shelter when dressing stones’ (SND, s.v. Sconce n. 1). 1670 A. L. Miller Hist. Lodge Aberd. (?1920) 63.
That all entering prentises be entered in our antient outfeild lodge in the Mearnes … at the scounces at the poynt of the Ness 1681 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 24.
Ane timber sconse or shed for keiping secked malt from rain 1688 Shields Heads of a Preface and of a Lecture Preached in Gaastoun 14.
The Ark and Dagon cannot stand together under one sconce a1689 Cleland 102.
I must confess, this fair-like sconce, Gives little shelter, help, or sonce

4. fig. Protection; a source of defence or shelter; a protector. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. (1591) R 3.
God … is a consuming fyre, except we haue a sconce, except we haue Christ Jesus to gang betuixt us and him 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xix.
The sconce againe that they carie of others exemple, is rather found an excuse for the fact, nor a reason for it 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 160.
Many embraced this new bastard indulgence … and … did some way homologate it in preaching under the sconce of it