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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ban, v. Also: bane. [ME. ban, banne, ON. banna to prohibit, interdict, curse.]

1. tr. To curse (a person or thing).(a) 1375 Barb. xv. 536 (quhen wiffis vald thar childir ban). a1400 Leg. S. xii. 200 (bannand the tyme scho wes mad); xlviii. 185 (the prefect his godis varyt & bannyt). c1450-2 Howlat 953 ( … bannyt bitterly his birth). a1500 Henr. III. 153/85 (thay sall blis ȝow, or ellis bittirly ȝow ban). a1500 Seven S. 491 (he bannit the tyme that he drew swerd). c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 154 (that band to blise or to ban). 1513 Doug. xi. v. 78 (thai Turnus wedlok bannys). 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 392 (I now thair banis ban). c1550 Rolland C. Venus ii. 680 (he Venus ay did ban). 1596 Dalr. II. 215/3 (verie oft he bannit that hand). 1601 Elgin Rec. II. 90 (gif euir Alexander dingis his mother or bannis her).(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii. 75 (my tyme gane by I bane); 360 (that he sould nocht his godis bane). 1533 Gau 90/11 (ve bane notht na bakbit ony man).

b. With clause as object.c1475 Wall. iii. 238 (thar kyne may ban that euir we hydder socht). a1568 Scott ii. 98 (he suld ban that he wes borne).

2. intr. To utter curses.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 811 (the barde bitterly couth ban). c1475 Wall. ii. 292 (thocht at thai blis or ban). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiv. 96 (to ban and sweir nan stuid a). 1535 Stewart 49461 (his toung wald neuir tyre to ban and sueir). 1565 Inverness B. Rec. I. 129 (scho bannan and wydlan as plesit hir). 1583 Sempill Sat. P. xlv. 984 (to sweir, to ban). 1600 Elgin Rec. II. 78 (gif he beis fund bannying or swearing).(b) a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxii. 2 (I did heir the commowne peiple bane and sweir). 1608 Kinghorn Kirk S. 14 ( … confessit her to haif cursit and banit at the trone). 1614 Elgin Rec. II. 139 (nocht to bane and swear).