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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.

(Sentry,) Sentrie, n. Also: centry, centrie, sent-, centurie. [e.m.E. sentrie (1611), century (1649) a (military) watch-tower, centree (1632), centrie (1650) a sentry or sentinel; conjectured by the OED to be a shortening or back-formation of centrinel (1598), centronel (1594). Cf. Sentinel(l n.] a. A sentinel or sentry. Also fig. b. fig. To keep sentry, to keep watch, mount guard. c. A group of two or more persons acting as sentries.a. 1667 Highland P. II 43.
Ilk one … stobbed the sentrie with his durk 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 657.
Androw Craig being centurie at that tyme, but distant from his statione, struck at him 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 657.
The three uther honest men who was standing centuries for the toune of Dumfreis 1674 Inverness Rec. II 259.
How soone the watch is conweined and sentries sett that tua of the watch be sett wp and putt in the loft abow the inner prisson … and wther tua centries in Willeam Bailies close ?1684 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 173.
They appoynted on James Douglas … to goe and spy efter him and withall to stand as sentrie in cais they should have bein discoveredb. 1667–72 Lauder Jrnl. 173.
I have also some verses he gave me made on thesse 2 fellows thats keips centry, as it were, just as ye come in at the garden door; their menacing face is of timber; all the rest with their speir is artificially cut out of bushc. 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 657.
The persones feering the dainger throw the saids persones whom he knew not to be a senturie, they running to his shope 1674 Inverness Rec. II 259.
Ane wthr centrie of tua men to watch on the south syd of the tolbooth