DSL - DOST   Lio(u)n, Lyo(u)n(e, n. Also: lyown(e, layon, (lyand). [ME. lio(u)n, lyo(u)n (c 1200), liun (Layamon), leo(u)n, leun (c 1230), AF. liun, F. lion.]
    1. A lion.
    a. The animal. Also once applied to a lioness. Also attrib. in lioun-skin (also liouns, lyonys skin), and in lion-hous, -yaird (where a lion or lions were kept). In literature, e.g. in Henryson's Fables or Dunbar's Thrissill & Rois, taken as `the king of beasts', as in earlier literature.
    b. In comparisons and similes, and c. in transf. or metaphorical use, chiefly with allusion to the ferocity, might, courage or nobility of the lion. d. Applied to Christ (cf. Rev. v. 5). e. Applied to the Scottish sovereign (? with reference to the lion in the Scottish arms). f. In proverbs and proverbial allusions. `There is a lion in the way'; Prov. xxvi. 13.
    g. A representation of a lion, as in heraldry, on coins, or in other uses. ? Also attrib. in lyon chalmer. h. As the name of ships. or of a gun. i. The constellation Leo. a. (1) That lyone, as lame ryicht meke; Leg. S. xviii. 1433. To lyownys lyk ar thare body; Wynt. i. 667. Thar eftyr wes Sampsone off renowne And slw the quhelpe off a lyowne [W. lyoune, C. lyon]; Ib. iii. 136. Gevin to a Ducheman of the Fere ... that brocht the lyone; 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 69. To Andro Broun that kepit the lioun in the Abbay; 1506 Ib. III. 200. For

et thi self & in ensample se The lyon king of bestis; Bk. Chess 170. The King ... thankit him ... For slauchter of the lyoun wode and fell; Clar. i. 1113. 1589 Exch. R. XXII. 70; etc. (2) The lyon for hir tender whelpis dois roir; Maitl. Q. lxxix. 1. (3) attrib. Reke Dyomeir hys mays and lyoun skyn; Doug. iv. Prol. 49. A bustuous lyonys [v.r. lyoun] skyn ... With goldyn clewys; Ib. v. vi. 116. To pay for ... maissone feis one the lione house; 1511-12 Treas. Acc. IV. 275; etc. In the abbay of Halirud hous for making of ane dur to the lyon hous; 1586 Treas. Acc. MS. 105. For vii c lead of stanes led fra the bak of the lyoun yaird [the lyones yaird; Ib. 342] to the dykis; 1613-14 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 345. To Robert Robeinsoun ... with sum uther turnes done be him in the lyand yaird; 1615 Ib. 360. The lyon

aird; 1639 Ib. MS. XXIX. 8 b. b. For hyme that scho als fellone Til spouse [tuk] as a woud lyone; Leg. S. xliii. 102. Rychard the hart off a lyowne Or Lyownys Hart ... Thai cald this Rychard comownaly; Wynt. vii. 2031. Defendand him as ane lyoun; Alex. ii. 5053. Than ar thai hardy as lyoune; Hay I. 60/13. [A knight should] be symple as a may amang peple, and in his inymyes presence be as lyoun rampand; Ib. II. 33/9. Chryst ... Is lyk a lyone rissin vp agane; Dunb. xxxviii. 18. As lyonis with awfull rage In yre thai hurlit him heir and thair; Ib. lxxii. 19. So lowd ne rumyst wild lyoun or ber; Doug. vii. Prol. 22. We ... saw ... ladyis ... Lyke wod lyonis cairfullie cryand; Lynd. Dreme 265. It wes said of him at he entrit in the papait hes ane tod he lefit hes a lion and deit lik ane dog; Abell 96 b. Than Lowrie as ane lyoun lap; Christis Kirk 101 (M). To raige as ane lyone that war lowsit of his band; Pitsc. II. 8/16. c. [William the Lion] was callit the lyoun of richtuisnes the frende of God; Asl. MS. I. 262/22. O rank rampand lyoun, to mischeif euer boun; Rolland Seven S. 3515. A man is a lyon in his own cause; Ferg. Prov. (1641) No. 120. Closit wp betuix twa hungerie lyounis, thristing for his blud; 1600 Misc. Bann. C. I. 145. Sen lawlie lyes thow noble lyon fyne, What sall betyde behind to dogges and swyne? Melvill 60. The haill posteritie of the ischu of King William the Lyoun; Bisset II. 174/16. The third sprit is called the roring lyon; 1662 Crim. Trials III. 606. d. O Jesu, lioun maist strenthy, King vnendlik; Fifteen Ois 261. Fle,

e aduersaris, ourcumin be the lioun of the tribe of Juda, rute of Dauid [etc.]; Arundel MS. 247/266. G. Ball. 81. e. The heuinly flour of France ... Quharein all Scotland saw thair hail plesance And maid the lyoun reioysit frome the splene; Lynd. Depl. Magd. 200. Welcum, oure lyone with the floure delyce! Scott i. 2. f. A levand dog is better na a ded lyone; Wisd. Sol. 739. Euin as the asse [sc. in the fable] ... quha ... did cleith himself with the skin of ane lyon; 1573 Cath. Tr. 6/5. Let us nocht say with the slugart, `Ther is a lyon in the way'; Melvill 287. Wheir the lyon's skin fails, it most be eiked out by the foxe's tail; 1673 Lauder Notices Affairs I. 66. g. (1) Off gold rampand a lyowne He bar in tyll asure brycht; Wynt. iv. 226. Schir Duncan ... sal nevir mak clayme ... in the beryng of the lioun in thair armys; 1443 Highland P. II. 179. For solding of lioun of the Kingis salt fat; 1508 Treas. Acc. IV. 137. Marc is vndirstand be a lioun for he tretis of Cristis rising agane; Nisbet Matthew Pref. [Fergus' banner] in quhilk wes ane reid lioun rampand in ane feild of gold ... awfully dingand his bak as is the gise of the gentill lioun [etc.]; Bell. Boece I. 18. [The mint-officers are] to ad thairto twa dobbis upoun the bak syde of the lyoun [on the plack]; 1588 Reg. Privy C. IV. 326. Making of ane of the lyouns mouthis at the spoutis of the tolbuith; 1634 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 19. (2) Tua leam lyonis; 1631 Brechin Test. V. 51. Twa Flanderis babies of tyle estimat to ij s. Item thrie lyounes estimat to iij s.; 1639 Edinb. Test. LIX. 83. Fowr lame platis quharof twa of thame ar babies and the vthir twa ar lyonis; Ib. 96. Certane laim lyones and ane laim chandler; 1649 Ib. LXIV. 271 b. (3) attrib. For the glasining of the fywe wyndois of ... the lyon chalmer; 1534-5 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 128. h. (1) [Letters sent] in the Lyon; 1493-4 Halyb. 7; etc. 1506 Treas. Acc. III. 204; etc. The schip callit the Lyoun; 1546 Ib. IX. 22. I think the Lyon be tane; 1546-7 Corr. M. Lorraine 176. 1562-3 Treas. Acc. XI. 242. The schip callit the Lyoun of Dundie; 1580 Wedderburn Compt Bk. 200; 1591 Ib. 65. (2) Eodem anno rex de Flandria fecit adduci machinam bombardicam vocatam Lyoun, nunc in Anglia; Liber Plusc. I. 376. i. Phebus in the Lyoun furth can carie; Henr. Fab. 630. In Capricorn the sygn off the Lioun; Wall. ix. 20.
    k. Attrib. passing into adj., = `lion-like, fierce as of a lion'. With lyoun luke richt awfull for to se; Stewart 12956. [Haue lyounis lukis and than mak me ane lear; 1570 Sempill Sat. P. xii. 127; 1573 Id. Ib. xxxix. 190.]
    2. a., b., c. Designating various Scottish coins.
    a. A gold coin first issued under Robert III and James II having a crowned Scottish escutcheon (with lion rampant) on the obverse. From the reign of James IV the designation lion was appar. superseded by Scottis croun or croun of wecht (see CROUN(E n. 5 c, d). Also half-lion.
    b. A coin of billon or copper first issued in 1555 having a crowned lion rampant on the reverse, originally valued at three-halfpence. Also known as the HARD-HED(E.
    c. Lyoun nobill, later lyoun pece, designations of a gold coin of James VI, issued from 1584 to 1588 and originally valued at 75 s., having a crowned lion sejant on the obverse (1584 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 164-5.) a. [Eciam fabricata erit de bono auro vna pecia vocata leo & habebit cursum pro quinque solidis monete ita quod duo leones ... erunt meliores nobili ad valorem trium denariorum; 1393 Acts I. 207/1. Quod ... nullum aurum habebit cursum ... exceptis leonibus, dimidiis leonibus, nobilibus Flandrie et Anglie [etc.]; 1398 Ib. 210/1.] Takande fra our lord the King allanerly ij [ed. ij s.] of thar lionis for a nobill Inglis; 1424 Ib. II. 6/2. That thare be strikyn ane new penny of golde callit a lyone with the prent of the lyon on the ta side & the ymage of Sanct Andro on the tother side with a side cote ewin to his fute haldand the sammyn wecht of the half Inglis nobil and that the said new lyon ... sall ryn for vj s. viij d. of the said new mone; and the half lyone [accordingly]; 1451 Ib. 40/1. Item that the lyon & half lyon be strikyn ewin sa furth wyth & haf cours to the said tyme the lyon for x s. & the half lyon for v s.; Ib. 40/2. 1456 Ib. 46/1. The Scottis money, that is to say the demy, the lyone, the grot of the crovne [etc.]; 1468 Ib. 92/1. 1478 Ib. 118/2. x syde coyt lyonis [v.r. x Scottis crownis]; 1488 Treas. Acc. I. 93 n. Rasauit ... in go[l]d of wycht 23 lyonis of gold, 7 hary nobyllis [etc.] ... 15 li.; 1498 Halyb. 143. b. That ane pece off layit money be imprentit ... off the fines of ane penny fyne threttytua off thame weyand the once haiffand the lyoune rampand crownit on that ane syde [etc.] ... and to haiff cours ... for thre halfpenyes ... And that the said pece be namit commonly the lyone; 1554 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 76. For foure hors wagis passand of Edinburgh to Coldinghame caryand j m vj c pundis of lyonis to be deliverit to ane part of the horsmen; 1558 Treas. Acc. X. 393. Daylie thair was suche numbers of lions (alias called hardheids) prented that the basenes thairof maid all thingis exceiding dear; Knox I. 365 (G). 1564 Crim. Trials I. i. 440; 1566 Ib. 487. Fals hardheidis vtherwayes callit lyounes; 1567 Digest Justiciary Proc. F. 20. The saidis new plakkis last cun

eit to haue cours and passage ... for twa penneis the pece, and all the saidis lyonis, vtherwayis callit hardheidis, for ane penny the pece; 1574 Acts III. 92/2. [Both secured, under redemption in Scots money] hardheddis callit lyounis and twelf penny pecis except [on the lands and mains of the Heuch]; 1576 Yester Writs 219; 1592 Aboyne Rec. 174. Thair wes lykwyse coinyeit be him [Johne Missaruy Inglischmane] in lyounis of a denyer fyne xxviij in the ounce of iij half pennyis ilk pece [in 1555-6]; c 1590 Hopetoun MS. in Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 98. c. (1) Past the irnis in nobill lyonis and crownis ... vj staines xj pundis x onces. Payeit ... for xl goldin assayis as for fourttie journayis ilk ane ane lyoun nobill at iij li. xv s. ilk peice; 1586 Cuniehous Acc. MS. 8. Finding in the said Thomas [Achesoun's] box the assayis of the lyoun noblis and new crownis haill and half [from 2nd Nov. 1584 to 18th April last bypast]; 1586 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I. 167. That the pece of gold cun

eit within this realme for xliiij s. sall now gif four pund, ... the four pund pece with the Kingis face four pund ten schillingis the lyoun nobill four pund; 1591 Acts III. 527/1. (2) And with thir [foreign coins] his maiesties thirscell noble to geve heirefter vij li. xvj s. the hat pece iiij li. ix s. the lyoun pece v li.; 1598 Acts IV. 175/2. The prices of gold and syluer proclami tat Edinburgh ... to hawe course and passage theirefter; ... Gold ... the hatt peice 4 lib. 13 s. 8 d., the lyoun peice 5 lib. 4 s. 4 d ... the fyve pund peice 5 lib. 6 s. 8 d.; 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 165. 3 sitting lyon peces at 8 merk the pece; 1600 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 122.
    d. The lion dollar (Du. leeuwendaalder), a silver coin of the Netherlands, `issued from 1576 to the close of the 17th cent.'
    Also known in later Amer. (1697-1768) and Eng. (a 1725) use. That of lait thair hes beene a great nomber of dollours commounlie callit lyoun or dog dollours brought within this kingdome; 1628 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II. 14. It wes found ... that the rex and lyoun dollours wer fittest to be allowed; 1629 Ib. 16.
    3. Designating the principal Scottish herald .
    In various specific collocations, as (the) lyoun herald, lyoun king of or at armis, lyoun etc. Lord Lyoun, see also LORD n.
    Probably so named from the Scottish sovereign's heraldic lion as worn on his tabard. [In solucione facta ... Leoni heraldo et Ade de Favside viij li. viij d.; 1377-8 Exch. R. II. 553; 1383-4 Ib. III. 117. Et solute Leoni regi haraldorum pro feodo sibi debito ... ut patet per literas ... ipsius Leonis de recepto; 1388 Ib. III. 170; Ib. 191, 692. Per solucionem factam Leoni herraldo armorum ... ut patet per literas ... dicti Leonis de recepto; 1409 Ib. IV. 74, 5. Et Leoni heraldo regi armorum percipienti per annum quinque marcas; 1412-3 Ib. 188.] [(Licence to) Leon heraud (of the King of Scots to take with him a complete suit of armour); 1381 Cal. Doc. IV. 67. Liouns Roy d'armes D'escoces; 1383 in Sources & Lit. Sc. Law (Stair Soc. I.) 383 n. Lion Kynge of herauldes of Scottland; 1532 St. P. Henry VIII VII. 385 in Lynd. (S.T.S.) IV. 257.] (1) For a bot that brocht our Lyone herald in hast to the King; 1473 Treas. Acc. I. 45. Gevin to Lyone heralde, passande in Inglande in the commissione with the ambaxiatouris; Ib. 50; etc. To Lioun heraldis man; 1505 Ib. III. 145. The reformatioun of the office of armes, the abuse quhair of standis in the imperfectioun of Lyon herauld; 1567 Acts III. 44/1. Wm. Stewart, Lyon haret, brunt in Sant Andros; Pitsc. II. 217 marg. Lyon harat skairs ... was cum quhen the King selfe was vpon the way; Dalr. II. 216/28. (2) All officers of armes to compeir befoir the Lyoun heroauld; 1554 Treas. Acc. X. 266. The princes ... wes cryed and called be the Lyon harrald Lady Elisabethe; 1596 Moysie 127. Nixt to thame the Lyoun Herauld him alane, with his coit of armes and ane velvat futmantill; 1600 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 108. The prowost [etc.] ... was with the Lion herat; 1663-4 Irvine Mun. II. 266. The conscience is ... the Lyon herauld ecchoing, the Lyon King at Arms publishing the will of the King of kings; Copy of a Letter by Mr John Dickson When He Was Prisoner in the Bass (1717) 20. (3) Gevin to Lyoune King of armez passand to Londone; 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 54. Lyon King of armes askit instrument; 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 38. For the tressonable ... putting of handis in umquhile William Cuming of Inueraloquhe knycht than callit Lyoun King of Armes; 1535-6 Reg. Privy S. II. 285/2. In presence of me Lyoun King of Arms and remanent heraulds chapterly conveent [etc.] ... [signed:] Lindsa of the Mont Lyon King; 1554-5 Misc. Spald. C. II. 215. Knicht of the Mont, Lyoun of Armis King, Quha in our dayis now did laitlie ring; Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort. 12. Full ... commissioun to Lyoun King of armes and his brether herauldis to visite the haill armes [etc.] ... and thairefter to matriculat thame in thair buikis and registeris; 1592 Acts III. 554/2. To ... Sir Charles Erskine of Cambo ... Lyone King of Armes; 1672 Ib. VIII. 123/2. [That] the rank and precedencie of Lyon King of arms of the kingdome of Scotland ... be immediatly next after Garter principall King of arms in England; 1707 Ib. XI. 401/2. (4) Becaus the jurisdictioun of the lyoun king of armes is nocht able to execute dew pvnisment [etc.]; 1592 Acts III. 555/2. Then comes the Lyone King of Armes carring the golden ampule or viale; Balfour Ann. IV. 390. Commission to the Lyon King of Armes or his deputes; 1672 Acts VIII. 95/1. The Lyon king of arms, in his coat, robe, collar, batton and footmantle, bareheaded; 1681 Bibliotheca Topog. Brit. XLVII. 215. (5) Decreetes before Lion King at armes; 1644 Acts VI. i. 247/2. 1672 Ib. VIII. 95/1. (6) The saidis Patrik, Erle of Forth [etc.] ... thair armes to be rent ... be the Lyoune king at armes within the parliament hous; 1644 Acts VI. 219/2; 1685 Ib. VIII. 455/1, 1695 Ib. IX. 378/2. To our Lyon King at Arms or his brethren heraulds ... that ... ye pass to ... Dowart, with our coat of armes displayed and ... charge the said John ... to deliver up the keys ... thereof to you our said Lyon or herauld; 1674 Highland P. I. 263, 8. (7) Be lyon herrard king of armis; 1514 Acta Conc. Public Aff. 14. To oure weillbelovit Lyoun herauld, King of armes, greting; 1557 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 35/1. Schir Robert Forman of Lutherie, knycht, Lyoun herald King of armes; 1559 Ib. MS. XXX. 17 b. Quhen M. lord Drummond gaue Lion harat King of armes on the haffet, cheif of al the haratis, the Duke escheited his patrimonie; Dalr. II. 157/23. The Kings declaratione was proclaimed in the Scottish campe, June twentieth, by Sir James Balfour, Lyon heralde King of armes for Scottlande; J. Gordon Hist. III. 22. [Constituting] the said Sir Charles Erskine and Alex^r Erskine his sone ... joynt Lyons and heraulds Kings of Armes [giving them both] the name of Lyon herauld King of Armes togidder with the stile, ... jurisdiction & casualities ... of old vsed & wont; 1672 Acts VIII. 124/1. (8) In manibus herraldi Lioun nuncupati; 1453 Exch. R. V. 536. [(For) Lion the haroulde (14 yards black satin Richemount); 1501-2 Cal. Doc. IV. 336.] [James V has sent] our maister of armis, Lyoun, to our derrest uncle; 1528 St. P. Henry VIII IV. 515 in Lynd. (S.T.S.) IV. 252. (9) [A letter producit be Lyone King of Armes ... , the landis of Dundonald ... pertenyng to the sade Lyon in liferent; 1496 Acta Conc. II. 12. Etc.] Our crowne of Scotland is ane imperiall crowne and ... hauldis of na king bot God and the Lyone; Pitsc. II. 126/17. Quhilk protestatioun the Lyoun admittit as the act of court subscrivit on the bak thairof ... lykewyse beris; 1582 Reg. Privy C. III. 512. And if thei hald furthe till thei be bot chargit with the Lyoun [sc. with treason] no remeid is for thame; 1614 Highland P. III. 188. 1647 Acts VI. i. 761/1. For carying a lettre fra the provest to the Lyon; 1661 Stirling Comm. Good 8 b. The said register ... to remain with the Lyons office as a publict register of the kingdome; 1672 Acts VIII. 95/2. If a messenger do any wrong ... he is lyable therefore ... and finds caution for that effect to the Lyon at his entry; Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxvi. § iii. 131. 1693 Acts IX. 247/1. (10) Some kirks and colleges afford ... Lord Rector, Lord Archdeane ... , So also is Lord Lyon grauely lorded; 1633 Lithgow Poet. Rem. 112. Protest. Lord Lyone King at armes against the ratefecatione foirsaid; 1641 Acts V. 720/2. (11) Reference in favoures of the Lord Lyon; 1645 Acts VI. i. 402/1. Act in favours of the Lord Lyon King at Armes; 1662 Ib. VII. 404/1. Anent some fies acclamed as due to the Lord Lyons office; 1663 Ib. 458/2. Ordaines my Lord Lyoune to be payit ... in relatioune to armes used be many who aught nocht; 1669 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 117. For a pint of wine in the castle when my lord Lyon [infra the Lyon] was sick; 1672 Foulis Acc. Bk. 7. To my lord Lyon; 1673 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 19 July. (12) attrib. and comb. With testificats ... to be delivered ... to the Lyon Clerk at his office in Edinburgh; 1672 Acts VIII. 95/2. The sentence ... of forfaulture was ... intimate with sound of trumpet in presence of the Lyon deput with his brethren heraulds & pursevants; 1695 Ib. IX. App. 110/2.
    b. A (Scottish) herald. The summonds of treasone is direct under the quarter seall to the lyone heraulds; Hope Major Pract. I. 272. The lyoun herauldis, purseuantis, maisseris, and trumpettouris follouit his Majestie in silens; Spalding I. 37. It is said, that about the fourth of Aprile ane lion herauld, ... cam to Dunottar; Ib. 262. Being summoned aforehand by a lyon-herald to enter themselves to the tolbuith of Edinburgh; Law Memor. (1818) 72. John Dell, Layon herot; 1658-1700 Greyfriars Interments 172.