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

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

Harnis, n. pl. Also: -ys, -es, harns, hairns, (harins). [Northern and north midl. ME. harnes (13 … ), hernes, early hærnes (a 1154), ON. hjarne (Sw. hjerna, Dan. hjerne), MDu., MLG., MHG. herne. After the 14th c., appar. only Sc. and north. dial.] Brains; the brain.(1) 1375 Barb. i. 294.
He sa fele off harnys sched Ib. v. 633.
He the hed to [E. till the] harnis clafe c1420 Wynt. v. 640.
Off Jacob … The harnys all war strykyn owte ?1438 Alex. ii. 5102.
The poun he hit richt on the hede, Quhill on the stane the harnis glede a1500 Henr. III. 152/57.
The harnis of ane haddok, hakkit or haill a1500 Seven S. 1446.
Scho … straik him on the hed, And brak his harnis 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 788.
Bot sa my harnis trimblit besily, Quhill I fell ouir 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 215.
Niniane Forster … strak him … upone his heyd that in the mene tyme the said Johnis harnys come furtht 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 211.
The said Jonat … cruelly promyst to caus ding owt all my harnis a1585 Polwart Flyt. 540 (Harl.).
Ilke lous … That hurtes his harnes 1628 Dundonald Par. Rec. 246.
He sould gar all John Legates harnes clatter because he had causit him paye so much silver 1746 J. Row Sermon 1.
The Kirk of Scotland ... has gotten sik a clush in her head, as has gart all her harnis jaap a1651 Calderwood V. 170.
His blood and harns ranne in the gutter 1686 Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 44.
I'll garr thy harns jaip again [gl. beat out all thy brains] 1692 Presb. Eloq. (ed. 2) 94.
Lord, … make the hairns of these Malignants a hodge podge(2) c 1420 Liber Calchou 449.
In man ar iij principa partis and membris, the hart, the leuer & the harnys 1456 Hay II. 127/17.
Fumygaciounis … , quhilkis indisponis the harnis and stroubelis the mynde 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4143.
A kynd of aill thay call harnis owt Ib. 4149.
Quha drinks of that aill, … It will gar all his harnis rage 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 38.
Myrrhe mundifies the harnis 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 84 b.
The fume of the vyne montit on his harnes, sa that … he fell in … sleip 1590 R. Bruce Serm. 63.
Ane fantasie ... fleeing in the harnes of man 1602 Colville Parænese 148.
Heady hoit felouis hauing thair hart and harnes inflammit with the fyir … of vanegloir