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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.

(Finenes,) Fines, Fyn(n)es, n. Also: fyn-, finace; fynis, finnes. [e.m.E. fynenesse, ME. fineness(? c 1400).]

1. The quality or degree of being fine.

a. Of metals.(a) 1424 Acts II. 6/1.
That … the king ger amende the mone and ger stryk it in lik wecht and fynes to the mone of Inglande 1451 Ib. 39/2.
At thar be strikin of the vnce of brynt siluer or bulȝeone of that fynes viij grottis 1490 Acta Conc. 135/1.
A chenȝe of gold … of the fynes of the rose noble 1538 Treas. Acc. VII. 32.
Twa chenȝeis of gold of the fynes of xxij carratis 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 204.
The vnce of siluer of fines of Pareis siluer 1596 Dalr. I. 47/20.
The fynes of the wol and gudnes of it(b) 1475 Acts II. 112/2.
Al vther gold to pas eftir the wecht and fynace at the plesance of the gevare and the takare 1485 Ib. 172/1.
The werk to be brokin, the werkman to vpmak the avale to the finace foresaid(c) 1532 Reg. Privy S. II. 208/2.
For the quhilk fynnes and wecht the maister of cunȝe and assayour sal be haldin to ansuer 1577 Reg. Privy C. II. 598.
The samyn [silver] … to be reduceit to the fynnes of aucht deneiris 1593 Acts IV. 49/1.
The gold to be the fynnes of tuentie twa carret 1674 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 126.
The said generall of the coinhouse to try the fynnes of the saids essayes of silver

b. Of other things. 1531 Edinb. B. Rec. 50.
Baikand his breid vnsufficient stuf bayth of wecht and fynes 1533 Reg. Great S. 286/2.
For sersing of the gudnes and fynes thareof [sc. cordiners' work] 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 251.
The penalties againes … the fynis of not sufficient gear [in shoes, etc.]

2. Subtlety. 1522 Douglas Corr. 85.
I knaw … the fynes of the mann, and nayne mayre dowbyll in oure realme