A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Dens, Dence, a. and n. Also: dense, dennis, -es, denst, denis; denche. [ME. densh, dench, denez, OE. denisc, f. Dene n.2]
1. Belonging to Denmark, Danish. Freq. in dens ax, a long-bladed axe.(a) 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 68.
His colare that was gevin be the King to the Dens man of were 1501 Acta Conc. II. 477.
Ane Dense ax, a broggit staff with a spere 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 130.
Twa … hable men to watche the samyn [port] … ilkane abilȝeit with jak and knapscall, dense aix or halbart 1533 Boece vii. v. 229 b.
Ane madyn chylde, quham be persuasioun of the dens king … Fergus tuke in mariage Ib. x. iv. 383 b.
Gif the dens chiftanis suld be slane 1561 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 333.
He newir wes skaythit be the said Thomas in ony gudis and geir the valour of ane dens quytt 1576 Orkney Oppress. 40.
For the full of the quhilk [can] thay tak fra the commownis ane Dens schilling 1587 Warrender P. 38.
If it wer the Denst custom, they thankit God ther Scottisch customs wer different 1590 Treas. Acc. MS. 200.
The … banquet maid to the dens lordis 1611 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 305.
Sic as had halbertis and dens aixis [were put] be thameselffis 1633 Acts V. 53/2.
The vddalleis of Orknay and Ȝetland quha hes thir many ages conforme to the Dens law 1666 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II. 151.
The inhabitants … with swords, pistolls, gunnes, dennes axes, halberts … did assault the saids compleaners(b) 1549 Ann. Banff I. 24.
The wrangous taking of ane Denche aks fra Andro Thome his brother 1564 Warrender P. I. 38.
Foure Dence schilling 1567 G. Ball. 182.
Inglis prelatis, Duche, and Dence, For thair abuse ar rutit out 1576 Orkney Oppress. 52.
Ane dewtie … quhilk extendis to four Dence quhytis Ib.
Everie Dence quhyt, quhilk is thre half-pennies Scottis 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 19.
It wes … agreit to mak ane honorable banket to the Dence imbassadouris
2. a. The Danish language. b. A Dane. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 568.
Arristotyll nor Plato, … Wrait nocht … In Duche, nor Dence, nor toung Italiane a1578 Pitsc. I. 233/21.
They could speik … dyuerse langagis, … Latine, Frinche, … Dutch, Dens, and Inglische — 1603 Moysie 95.
A gentlevoman quhom he loved, a Dence 1600-1610 Melvill 418.
Polonians, Dences, Belgians
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"Dens adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dens>