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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Warn, Wairn, v.¹ Also: warne, varn(e, vairn, wairne, uairne, wayrn, wern(e. P.p. also warinit, wairent, -int. [ME and e.m.E. warnien, wernin (both a1200), warn(en (Layamon), warne (Cursor M.), waren(en (c1330), varn (1422), OE war(e)nian, MLG warnen.] tr.

1. To give (a person or persons) information or news of impending danger, such that action on their part may save them from harm; to inform of such news.pres. 1375 Barb. vi 65.
Giff I may her ony thing I sall ger warn [C. varn] ȝow sa that we Sall ay at our awantage be 1375 Barb. xv 158.
The man that went to the king For to warne [C. warn] him of thar isching Warnyt [C. Warnit] him in full gret hy ?1438 Alex. ii 2872.
Qvhen he had herd all thare intent … To himself than said he sone ‘But I thame warne, it war euill done’ 1460 Hay Alex. 3076.
Thay send ane trattie, that … Thay suld the toun to him … resinge, Tha[m]e to respute ane fourtene dayis, but mare, That thai mycht warn thair lord, quhair euir he ware, And gif he wald na succour to thame send … Thay suld deliuer [etc.] c1475 Wall. iii 433.
I sall do nocht till tyme I tak my leyff, And warn you als or that I fra you pas c1475 Wall. vii 35.
I am thar fa, and warn thaim will I nocht 1490 Irland Mir. III 117/19.
Quhen he seis ony apperand perell he soundis and rengis a bell to warne the pepill 1494 Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 353.
That nathir of tham heir nor wit the tothirs peril nor scaith but he sal warn him tharof 1514 Aberd. B. Rec. I 91.
And at thai haue rady with tham fyr and stuf to mak blaise, to warne thar marowis gif thai sal hapin se ony salis one the cost c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 8.
He … reprevis … Pharisees … warnis his disciplis to be war of thare laven 1588 Crim. Trials I ii 163.
Mr. Williame Sympsoun … wairnis hir of thair cuming and saulfis hir 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II 346.
I sall warne thame of thair skaithp.t. 1375 Barb. xv 159 (C) (see pres. above).
Warnitp.p. 1375 Barb. vii 533 (C).
Gif fut-men gaf hym battale, He suld be hard to vyn, gif he Of thair cummyng ma varnit be 1375 Barb. xvii 114.
Had thai bene warnyt … Thai suld haiff sauld thar dedis der … Bot [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 566.
To-morne quhan I se the day … Ishe we furth of the cite, Or the Indeanes may warned be … And mony of thame we sall abais 1460 Hay Alex. 2760.
The king be letter warnit was alsa 1460 Hay Alex. 3706.
Sa saw thai Alexander … with ane full plesand menȝhe The quhilk was warnit in the samyn day Be futmen that war drivaris of the pray a1500 Seven S. 1673.
The myrour schewe thaim … All that thair enemys schupe to do … Thus with thair ymagis warnit war thai Of thar enemys baith nycht & day a1578 Pitsc. I 157/7.
King Edwart with his lordis being varnit that Harrie the leit king was cummand out of Scotland a1578 Pitsc. II 161/20.
Scho tuik porpose to come out of Dumbar to Edinburgh bot the congregatioun being wairnitt of hir … held hir out of Edinburgh 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv Pref. 114.
Heirfore, deir brethrene, I wish you to bewar: Sen ye are wairned, I wald not ye were blekkit; To thair deceatfull doctrine come nocht nar

b. To inform (a person) of something bad that is going to happen, as a threat or prediction. ?1438 Alex. ii 1551.
I warne ȝow this: We sall discumfete him and his a1500 Henr. Fab. 2658.
I culd him warne, Within ane ȝeir, and I brukit my heid, I suld be wrokkin on him 1557 Rec. Earld. Orkney 108.
Varnit the said Villiam eldest that he nor his ayris sold ayr vyrtht ane d. in landis or ayrschip efter his deces 1587-99 Hume 44/96.
Was sick in great distres And be the prophete wairnd, that he sould neuer conuales

c. Only negative: To advise or inform (persons) not todo something. 1655 Lorimer St. Cuthbert's 17.
That he [sc. the beadle] wairn non to collect at the church doors bot such as are of good behaviour

2. a. To supply with news, information or knowledge, of a specific or general sort. Also in parenthetic use as an asseveration: ‘I am telling you’, ‘I insist’. b. To predict future events. c. absol.To instruct, caution (the ignorant).a. 1375 Barb. iii 451.
Thai the tour held … Till that Rychard off Normandy Magre his fayis warnyt the king That wes ioyfull off this tithing a1400 Leg. S. ii 729.
For is na payne, we wele thé warne, In life sa gret as to ber barne ?1438 Alex. ii 3939.
And in amouris heir-in is laucht With ane wenche that is weill taucht, That byndis him, I warne ȝow weill, Fastar than fetter or mais of steill c1420 Wynt. vi 490.
Hyr cubiculare By hyr lay, and gat a barne: That all hyr clergy couth noucht warne [W. mycht nocht warne] a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 781.
The wy that weildis yone wane, I warn you but weir, He thinkis his aune self shall do for his dail a1500 Henr. Fab. 499.
Ȝone wes … our orlege bell Our walkryfe watche, vs for to warne and tell Quhen that Aurora … Put vp hir heid betuix the nicht and day a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 359.
Ane chyld come fra the hall, To warne Cresseid the supper was reddy 1503 Treas. Acc. II 366.
To Gareoch pursewant, that com to the king and warnit of the Erle of Marris dede xxviij s. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 193.
I warne thé it is wittin How, skyttand skarth, thow hes thé hurle behind 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4829.
Ȝe auld men … Ȝoung wemen into mariage In na maner is for ȝow meit … Now ȝe ar warnit, I bid adewb. c1450-2 Howlat 975 (A).
Now mark ȝour merour be me, all maner of man … All ȝour welth will away. Thus I warn ȝow 1460 Hay Alex. 366.
Tell him that god Amon warnit thé That of this world hale conquerour sall thow bec. 1671 Sel. Biog. I 247.
Such [ministers] as have any liberty of a subject … ought … from house to house instruct and wairn young and old … as occasion offers

3. To give notice to, summon; to instruct, order or command (a person or persons) (to do, that something). 1375 Barb. x 204.
That nycht warnyt he preuely Thaim that … in the buschement suld be … And thai … sped thaim thar That or day thai enbuschyt war 1429 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXI 145.
Till a man to warn the schiraff viij d. to gar the contray blaw out 1460 Hay Alex. 4114.
[He] Gart warne the ost, and ordand for the toun c1475 Wall. vii 352.
Feill men scho warnd and gart to Laglayne pas, Hyr selff formest, quhill thai with Wallace met c1475 Wall. vii 1181.
The horn he hyntyt and couth blaw Sa asprely, and warned gud Jhon Wricht: The rowar out he straik with gret slycht [etc.] 1489 Treas. Acc. I 111.
To pas with letteres … to the lardis of Calder, Haynyng, the person of Ayre [etc.] … to warne thaim to cum to ryde with the king a1500 Seven S. 2695.
The king has callit his seruandis … And said … thai suld fynd a man In sic a forest and warne him syne The king the morne with him wald dyne 1503 Treas. Acc. II 379.
To Beg, to pas with the kingis lettrez to the Erle of Mortoun and the Maister of Angus to warne thair ladyis agane the cummyng of the quene v s. … to David Tempilman to pas in the Westland, to warne of the ladyis for the cummyng of the quene xiiij s. … to Beg, to pas with the kingis lettrez to warne the Countes Marschell and the Lady Glammys for the quenis cummyng vj s. 1504 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 135.
[They] sale rid … throw the toune … quhen thai ar warnit be the sad abbot and prior obefor c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 141.
That day, faill not to warne and call All men of musick and of menstrallie About my beir c1561 Sc. N. & Q. 3 Ser. VI 24.
Dra this cord the bel to clink Qvhais mery voce varnis to mete and drink 1570 Reg. Morton I 56.
Haue all our freindis and weilwillaris abowte ȝow warnitt to be in redynes upoun ane houris warnyng to cum to ws quhan we send aduertisment a1578 Pitsc. I 115/32.
Thairfoir he send and warnit all his kin [etc.] … chairgand thame to meit him at Douglas 1596 Dalr. II 196/9.
[They] wraket mony Inglismen, blew thair trumpet, shew thair banner, warneng thame to the feild 15… Lett. Jas. VI to Bruce 285.
Uairne M. David to be heir lykewayes a1651 Calderwood VII 365.
Even as Moses was wairned by God, when he was about to finishe the tabernacle, that he sould make all things according to the paterne shewed to him in the mount 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 16.
[He] was warned in a vision … to goe to the shrine … and to take out … a tooth [etc.]

4. To give official or legal notice, order, summon (a person or persons) (to (appear before or in) a court, place etc., or to (carry out) an obligation). Also, in collocation with charge, cyte, summond, etc.(1) 1398–9 Acts I 211/2.
Gif thai be nocht warnyt til aper before the lieutenand na his deputis 1474 Edinb. B. Rec. I 29.
Anentis the dissobeying of thair dekin in the cumming and gaddering befor hym and the craft quhen thai ar warnit 1477–8 Reg. Episc. Glasg. 461.
Sworn officiaris … had … cryit at the merket cros oppynly warnand the lochful heritaris or ayris of xl dais to cum & pay the said annuell 1485 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 318.
Ordanis our souerane lordis letteres be derect to the schereff to tak the sade preif befor him and to warne the perty tharto 1501 Chart. Coupar A. II 103.
That the depositionis of the witnes now takin in this mater be closit quhill the said day and the partiis and thare procuratouris ar warnit heirof 1511 Treas. Acc. IV 323.
To warne the spirituall lordis for ane generale counsall concernyng the Paip and the King of Francis materis 1521 Boyd Fam. P. No. 3 (3 Nov.).
Thane we … quhilks beis warnite for the tyme sall redely compere day and place of warnyng as sade is and [etc.] 1525 Wigtown B. Ct. 173b.
That Gebe McCayne suld fynd ane broch … till that day becaus he is laythle varnyt [etc.] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 47 (B).
Heir be oppin proclamatioun, I warne … The thre estaitis of this natioun, That thay compeir with detfull diligence, And till his grace mak thair obedience 1545–6 Aberd. B. Rec. I 231.
The haill townn being varnit be thair hand bell, and convenit for the maist pairt, representand the haill body of the townn, consentit that [etc.] 1556 Aberd. B. Rec. I 298.
The counsell … ordanis that the haill toune be warnit agane the moro … to the effect that ane taxatioun may be sett 1596 Dalr. I 291/17.
Quhairfor the conuentioune is skailet … The neist ȝeir thay ar warnet al to Skone 1674 Corshill Baron Ct. 116.
For deforceing of his officer quhen sent to warne him to worke ane parte of his service conforme to his take(b) 1476 Acta Aud. 54/2.
For thare … vnlauchful proceding … in the seruying of the said brefe he nocht being lauchefully wernit for his defens 1574 Misc. Maitl. C. I 99.
Margaret Symsone being wernit to ansuer the kirk super inquirendis(c) 1497–8 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 72.
He is wairnit heirto in jugement be the baillies 1514 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 151.
To … big vp the said heid dykes … becaus thai wer wairnit of before be oppin proclamatioun at the mercat croce to mak thame sufficiently conformand to nychtbourheid 1547 Armstrong Hist. Liddesdale i App. lxxix.
To ane to play throwch the toun of Leith upoun ane swesche, to wairne the hors to cum and ressave thair charges 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 104.
He causit lawchfullie wairne Williame Libertoun pretendit tennent and occupiar of foure aiker … to have flittit and removit 1582 Conv. Burghs I 138.
Vairnit 1587 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV 244.
Becaus he wes not wairnit to the effect foirsaid … he solempnitlie protestit for remeid 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 56.
[The council] ordanis proclamatioun … all the nichtbouris … in tyme of suddane effrayes, as thai ar wayrnet be the swesche or commoun bell, to repair … weill furnist in thair airmour to the places following 1610 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 66.
The pepill ar becum verray disobedient insafer as being wayrnit be ane officer to cum to ane baillie … thai absent thamselffis contumaciouslie 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. 22.
For the secund fault sall poind the said swyne and wairne the awner thairof and in cais of his absens his wyff or bairnis being of perfyte age, and sall wairne thame to cum and sie the skaith 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 19.
What counsellour sall absent himselff fra the said meitting being wairnet sall pay xii s. 1671 Edinb. B. Rec. X 109.
The deacone … ordaines that … David Pringell sall not be wairned to any of ther meitings 16… Old Kirk Chron. 79.
[The clerk … took the weekly doles to the poor,] wairned [delinquents, and served the church generally](d) 1615 Glasgow Maltmen 35.
Decernit in ane unlaw of threttene schillings four pennies money, fur not compeiring … to pay their quarteris compts, being lawlie wairint be the officer to that effect 1619 Glasgow Maltmen 70.
Wairent 1676 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 18 Dec.
That quhasoever shall be warinit personallie and not attend that they shall pay unlaw of thrie punds(2) 1459 Reg. Paisley 404.
We charge ȝow, that ye peremptourly summond, warne and charge the bailȝeis … of Renfrew, and the comunite of the samyn burgh … to compeyr before ws and our counsale at Edinburgh 1548 Inchcolm Chart. 90.
We command … that … you pas to the landis of Wester Balclaveis … and at you werne and charge the saidis Henry Mois [etc.] … to denud the saidis groundis 1558–9 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 89.
Lauchfullie summond warne charge and arreist the saidis Stone Zan and Charlis Sangleir … to compeir befoir us 1569 Reg. Privy C. II 58.
[Ane] assise or assissis … that best knawis the veritie on the said mater to sufficient numer, to summond, varne, cheise and cause be sworne 1573 St. A. Kirk S. 384.
The minister … sal publiclie … wairn and chairge … all thais wythtin the parrochioun … that they present thair bairnis and children unbaptized in the communioun iile a1578 Pitsc. I 219/13.
[They] sumond and wairnit all the haill lordis of Scottland … to compeir at Edinburgh 1581 Conv. Burghs I 123.
To incur the … vnlaw of xxx li. for thair … absence fra this present conventioun, thay beand cytit and wairnit thairto be the missiues direct to that effect 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 327.
Ane instrument off premonitioune beiring the said Mr. Mathew to be … laughfully preweaysit and warnit … to compeir

b. To give (a person or persons) official or legal notice of (apon) a period of time, to give a specified period of notice; to warn (ap)on (of) a specified period of warning. 1385 Rot. Sc. II 73/2.]
[In cas thay may noght let it thai sall ger warne the tother part of xv days 1425 Liber Melros 544.
We gert somond lauchfully warnyt of fourty dayis … John … abbot of Melros … and … John Hag of Bemersyde … tyll wndirgang asyse [etc.] 1447 (1451) Reg. Great S. 106/2.
He or thai sal warn the said lady half a yer befor the terme 1462 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 368.
Quhatt time the said Robert Mortimer warnis me … apon fourti dayis warning … to cum [etc.] 1473 Reg. Cupar A. I 177.
Gif tha thynk that tha ma sted tham bettyr in vthir placis tha sal haue our fre licens warnand half a ȝer before the terme 1476 (1481) Reg. Great S. 310/2.
Quhat tyme the forsaid … schyr Johnne warnis me … of fourty dais warnyn … to cum and ressave the soume of [etc.] 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cix.
The lordis … decretis … that the said schiref and his deputis has failyeit in thair offices … because thai nouther warnit our soverane lord nor ȝhit the said party apone xl^ti dais efter the forme of the act of parliment 1551 Reg. Cupar A. II 71.
We warnand thame thairto xxiiij houris warnyng of befor 1569 Inverness Rec. I 180.
The jugis hes ordanit the saidis James to warne the pruiffis castaris this daye aucht dayis

c. To notify, inform (a person or persons) of (to) the particular day set aside for proceedings, etc. or a suitable day to be decided; to summon (a person, etc.) to attend on a particular day. Also const. in.Also for an offence.(1) 1503–4 Acts II 254/1.
The justice … sall warne bath the partijs of the saide day lymmit for the discussing of the said dume 1582 St. A. Kirk S. 491.
The sessioun ordanis Jonet Forbes to be warnit to this day viij dayis, for ressaving of Jonet Hagy in houshald within this citee 1597 St. A. Kirk S. 835.
To warn Patrik Arthour baxter to Sonday nixttocum, for hinging furth of his casar with breid 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS 5 Jan.
James Colme is ordane to be warneit to the morne 1622-6 Bisset II 67/12.
The said commisser may caus warne the executouris to ane competent day to conferme the testamentis 1630 S. Leith Rec. 19/2.
Ordained the heall websters to be warnit all to the naixt day(2) 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. I 312.
For blawin of the trumpet at the croce for making of the proclamatioun to warne in the parliament to ane day, v s.(3) 1597 St. A. Kirk S. 836 (see d below).

d. To be summoned (to answer) for an offence. 1583–4 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 328.
Cudbert Murray to be wairnet and accusit for the cawsing of his guidsone to be maid burges be rycht of his bastard dochter 1597 St. A. Kirk S. 836.
To warn George Scottis dochter for keping of hous and drinking and nicht walking to Weddinsday 1630 Kinghorn Kirk S. 34.
Margaret Main … to be warnit for knocking bear in time of sermon

5. specif.To report formally to (a person) that one has completed or is about to begin a period of duty on watch. Also absol.Appar. only in Selkirk. 1509 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 8.
The wachis … to wak quhyll cokraw and syne to warne Stewyne of Lawder in the wost part, Thomas Jhonson one the over part and [etc.] 1513 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 25.
The wost wach warne Stewyne of Lawder, the over wach warne Jhone Jhonson, the est wach to warne Thome Bryden to caus thir thre persones be suorne to schaw one the morne to yow balȝeis quha kepis nocht the wach 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 91.
We ordand four men to waik at every part in the town quhill the brekin of the day, and or thai pas to bed to warne Jhone Haw ester, James Muthag in the over part and George Mychelhill in the vest part under the pane of twa s. 1527 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 91.
Varneabsol. 1518 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 48.
We ordand iiii men in ilk towne end to wak and ilkane of thame conjunctlie warne at thair cummyn and thair gangin