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 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hamelynes, n. Also: hamly-, ham(e)li(e)-, hamelé-, haimli-, haymly-, hemlines. [Northern ME. hamlynes (a 1340), midl. and southern hoomly-, homelynesse (c 1380), f. Hamely a.]

1. Intimacy, familiarity, friendship; friendliness, kindness. Also personified. a1400 Leg. S. v. 7.
Fore God luffyt hym mare Than al the lafe, … And scheu hyme mar hamlynes Ib. xxxvi. 1210.
Seildine befor herde was Betwene god & man sic hamlynes 1456 Hay II. 93/11.
For our mekle syk hamelynes engenderis … vilipensioun of princis 1535 Stewart 51667.
This samin freir … gat … sic quentance and hamlines … That he wes welcum in the erlis hall In ony tyme a1570-86 Arbuthnot Maitl. F. xxix. 86.
I luif modest sobir ciuilitie Mixit with gentill courtes hamlynes 1591 Crim. Trials I. 240.
Quhan hamelines wes contractit betuix hir and Barbara Naipar 1605 Dundonald Par. Rec. 87.
Occatioun of sclander be thair over grait hamlines togidder 1635 D. Dickson Wr. (1845) I. 30.
Is there not some hameliness betwixt the work and the workman?fig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 190.
Dame Hamelynes scho tuke in company 1540 Lynd. Sat. 448.
Heir I protest for Hamelynes, ȝour las

b. Of animals: Domesticated condition, tameness. c1420 Wynt. iv. 2092.
And alkyne best hamly thare … Left thar stablys, … Lewand thare auld hamlynes

2. Familiarity or lack of ceremony in speech, outspokenness, bluntness. c1475 Wall. ix. 348.
Bot with your leiff I spek in haymlynes 1528 Douglas Corr. 133.
Beseking ȝour gud grace to pardone my hamlynes 1609 Rep. Hist. MSS. Var. Coll. V. 113.
Excuse my hemlines, vhilk procedis of love