Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Clan, n. Also: clane, clann(e, klan. [Gael. clann children, offspring, family, stock.]

1. One of the local or family groups in Scotland, especially in the Highlands or on the Borders, bearing a common name and united under a head or chief. c1420 Wynt. ix. 1675.
Tha thre score ware clannys twa, Clahynne Qwhewyl and Clachin Yha 1496–7 Acta Conc. II. 41.
That every hedismen of al clanis ressave the summondis 1516 Reg. Privy S. I. 440/2.
Thair kin and frendis of the clannis and surnames of Elwald in Bagget 1531 Bell. Boece II. 469.
It was appointit betwix the heidis-men of thir two clannis, … that xxx of the principall men of the ta clan sal cum, with other xxx of the tothir clan [etc.] 1535 Stewart 44413.
Efter him suld neuir ane spring or spreid Of all his clan 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 92.
Williame Barry, messinger, send to Elgin and Innernes to proclame ane assurance to the capitanis of the clannis of the hieland to cum to Abirdene Ib. 122.
To caus hym [Mangertoun], with the principales of the clannys of Lyddisdale and Eskdaill, meit my lord Governour in Jedburght a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 150.
All my kyn, allya, or my clan In richt or wrang I man alwayis mantene 1577 Reg. Privy C. II. 621.
To command … the principallis and utheris of all clannis … that thay on na wayis resset … the saidis rebellis and thevis 1585 Ib. III. 739.
Pretendit quarellis movid aganis him be his nychbouris, the principallis of the clannis in the Ilis and Hielandis 1596 Dalr. I. 325/6.
Frome him the hous and clann of the Cumeinis first vpsprang Ib. II. 242/16.
The bankis of Rosse and Kintaill, quhair mony tha fund of the ald klan of Makdonel c 1597 Melrose P. *615.
As … vtheris cheifis of klanis hes done of befoir 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. 131.
Diuers and sindrie beggaris … brokin fra thair companeis & clanis out of the Hilandis 1617 Acts IV. 548/2.
The gryit hurt … whiche his Maiesties liegis haue susteyned … by the cheffis of clannis [by taking of calps]

2. A kinship, tribe, or race in general. 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 62.
Onone he knew … of our clan the dowbill stok Ib. vii. xii. 5.
Clausus … Fra quham the clan and pepill Claudyane Is cummyn 1533 Bell. Livy II. 198/29.
The Ethruschis … occupijt all the landis … with als mony sindry colonyes as thare was sindri clannys of thare lynnage 1535 Stewart 451.
All his folk, for mair affinitie, Callit thame Scottis all of ane clan to be c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1213.
In that countre of Sethis clan Discendit mony holy man 1562-3 Winȝet II. 62/11.
Sa mony ilis, prouincis, kingis, clannis [etc.] 1568 Pref. Lyndesay ii.
Ȝit neuer poeit of our Scottische clan Sa cleirlie schew that monstour c1590 J. Stewart 73/21.
As Dido … Quhan scho socht counsele … Concerning both the cumlines and clan Of hir Ené 1595 Duncan Appendix.
Stirps, the stok of a tree, or a clanne

3. A class or set of persons. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxii. 32.
Quhen seruit is all vdir man, Gentill and semple of euery clan 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. cviii.
Heir ar kingis and mony nobillis stout, And nane of thaim pertenand to his [the churl's] clan c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5748.
With Iudas sall compeir one clan Of fals tratouris to God and man 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 177.
For thay that ar ane faithles clan Can nother dreid God, kyng, nor man a1585 Maitl. Q. xxxv. 4.
Quha dewlie wald decerne the nature of gud wemen, Or quha wald wis or ȝairne that cumlie clan to ken