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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.

Ingine, Ingyn(e, n. Also: ingin, -giane, -gynd, -jyne, -gyine, -gene, -gein(e, -geyn(e. [Late ME. ingin(e, yngyne (c 1440), var. of Engine n., with in as in the original L. ingenium.]

1. Mental or intellectual talent, natural intelligence or cleverness, ability, genius. c1420 Wynt. ii. 551.
[The Jews] grewe so fast Off industry and ingyne
Ib. v. 3553.
Sutyle of ingyne he was
1533 Bell. Livy I. 204/11.
He was dotate with maist souerane ingyne
1549 Compl. 22/1.
The quhilk passis humaine ingyne to comprehende the grounde … of it
1562-3 Winȝet I. 24/34.
Humane childer of happy ingynis, mair able to leir than I wes to teche
1573 Cath. Tr. 3/5.
To impesche and trauel men of gude ingyne … to cum to the understanding of the veritie
1585 James VI Ess. 54.
We haue all their opinions in writ … , besydes our awin ingynis
1600-1610 Melvill 25.
Whase ingyne and judgment past me als far … as the aigle the howlet
1671 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 271.
If any boy, thorow neglect or hardnes of ingyne, come short of his fellow
1695 Glasgow Univ. Mun. II. 515.
The humours, inclinations, and ingine of their schollars

b. Applied to literary, esp. poetic, genius or ability. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 4 (Sm.).
Virgill … Gemme of ingine and fluide of eloquence
1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. Prol. 55.
Thocht I had ingyne, as I haue none, I watt nocht quhat to wryt
1560 Rolland Seven S. 613.
The great ioy … My waik ingyne can na way weill compas
1596 Dalr. I. 110/8.
Mony men excellent in … leirning … quha wattired the … gairdins of Scotland [etc.] … with the fountanes of thair ingines
1636 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 143.
No pen, no words, no ingine can express to you the loveliness of my Lord Jesus

c. Applied abstractly to persons endowed with intellectual gifts. 1568-9 Old Dundee I. 73.
Some venturous ingyneis uses to ... dispute against the guid true religion
a1578 Pitsc. I. 140/6.
The werie corruptouris of goode ingynes
1584 Calderwood IV. 153.
The good ingynes, wherof no nation hath greater store … , are applyed … to handie crafts
1585 James VI Ess. 20.
This yle of Brittain, swarming full of quick ingynes
1609 Garden Garden 48.
Though they should … joine All th' earthl' ingens with those the best abone
1637 Baillie I. 9.
Alwayes I take the man to be among the most learned and best ingynes of our natione
1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 68.
Many promising and pregnant ingenys lost and letters discouraged

d. Quasi-concr. A person's intellectual faculty, an intellect. 1544-5 Hamilton P. II. 554.
It dullis and spyllis his ingyn
a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun xi.
Quhen thair ingyn and mynd is ydill
a1578 Pitsc. II. 51/18.
The ... cardinall cuist his ingyne to get the governour ... bound to his counsall
1682 Lauder's Observes App. iv. 307.
The curious have sorely tortured ther ingines, searching which of the schoal nicities that might [be]

2. Mental quality in general, disposition, temperament. c1475 Wall. vi. 316.
Off ingen he was trew
1513 Doug. i. Prol. 321.
Gentill ingynys, and breistis curageus
1533 Bell. Livy I. 178/8.
Ane man of mair soft ingine
Ib. II. 120/22.
[He] fand sa proude ingine … amang his adversaris
1533 Boece i. i. 33 b.
Gathele … was … of prudent and wise ingine
1540 Lynd. Sat. 1917.
Michtie drink comforts the dull ingine
c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxii. 2.
Your outward gesture … decleris the invard secrettis of ingyne
1622-6 Bisset I. 33/19.
As the ingyne of sindrie men ar

b. The mind or disposition of a person or persons. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 186.
He gave his ingine to hunting
Ib. (M) II. 129/38.
The ingyn of tyrannis ar ay of sik condicioun [etc.]
a1578 Pitsc. I.124/18.
Wickitnes, to the quhilk he was gevin … throw the impietie of his awin ingyne
1586 Row 121.
My often … abusing of the kirk … by confessiounes, infirmiteis of my owne ingyne
1594 Ib. 156.
Their malicious ingyns in conspyreing aganis Kirk, King [etc.]
1596 Dalr. I. 151/24.
Out of al partes he gathiret a gaird of his awne brane and ingine, evin as impudent as him selfe
1643 Baillie II. 57.
The King hes turned the Parliament's ingyne against them

3. Ingenuity, skill (esp. manual), contrivance. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 37.
Na devise nor ingine of man may avale
Ib. 38.
It is na litill admiratioun be quhat ingine and strenth sa huge stanes bene brocht togidder
1536 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 318.
For his … lawbour of masoun craft, the best, craftiast and of maist ingyne that he can
1549 Compl. 4/15.
Succurrit be ane diuyne miracle, rather nor be the ingyne of men
1563 Acts II. 538/2.
Certane strangearis of excellent ingyne … quha hes accordit to … manifest ane new maner of making of salt
a1585 Maitl. Q. lxvi. 86.
In ane cadge inventit be ingyne The sillie bird … dois pyne
1596 Dalr. I. 95/3.
The brue of this fleshe … thay make … with gret ingine
1622-6 Bisset II. 372/33.
Na medicionell ingyne of man mycht … cuir him be phisik
c1650 Spalding I. 259.
Thay set thair ingyne to do what could be done to withstand … the castell cannon

4. An instance of ingenuity; an artifice, device or contrivance; a stratagem or plan. 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 41/19.
Nocht knawand be quhat ingyne he mycht distroye thame baith
Ib. (1821) II. 160.
Thay serchit mony inginis to win the town
Id. Livy I. 123/7.
Lat us … vesy be quhat ingynis & exercicions euery ane of oure wyiffis ar presentlie occupijt
c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus ii. 731.
Thay kuld be na kin art … hir court … conuert Be no ingine or imaginatioun
1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 87 b.
This is the ingine of Sathan, to appeir to condemne idolatrie
1592 Acts III. 559/1.
Thomas Foullis gouldsmyth hes found out the ingine and moyane to caus … fyne the vris of mettallis
1596 Dalr. I. 95/5.
Of heipes of corne throuch the same ingine breid wil thay make
Ib. II. 134/4.
Nawyse culd he win fra him, be nouther industrie or ingin
1611-57 Mure Misc. P. i. 23.
Inventing then all the ingynes he can, To brash my breast the battery thus began
1639 Baillie I. 115.
The subscryveing of the King's Covenant … became the soveraigne ingyne to overturne episcopacie
c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 93.
[His] braine was ... alwayes ... hammering furth sum ingeine to compasse his designe
1658 Glasgow Weavers 22.
David Arnot … sall not … conceall no poynt nor ingyne thairof fra him
1692 Vindication of Calvin, [etc.] Preface.
This essay ... is an ingine set a-work to ... heal the beast of its deadly wounds

5. With evil, false, or coupled with colour: Deception, guile, trickery.(1) 1457 Wemyss Chart. 81.
Al fraude and gyle, excepcioun and euyl ingene remouit
1496 Lennox Mun. 162.
All fraud, gyle, cauelation and ewill ingyn excludit
(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2858.
The mous, but persauing The fals ingyne of this … taid
c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 121 (M).
He is sa full of jelosy and ingyne fals
15.. Clar. v. 61.
How the toune [sc. Troy] was taine be false ingyne
1560 Rolland Seven S. 2059.
O wickit wicht, thow dois all that thow can With fals ingyne euer to tempt the man
(3) 1472 Lennox Mun. 87.
I … sall neuer … throw ony maner of colour or ingyn … perseu the said Lord Dernlee
1550 Elgin Rec. I. 104.
That na persoun … sell ony barkit ledder … under quhatsumevyr cullour or ingyne
1558 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 308.
Neuer to violat … the samen [act] be coverit craft, ingin, nor color
1589 Sutherland Chart. 164.
That nane of thame … sall intruse or be ony cullour or ingyne posses thame … in ony of the said … landis

6. A mechanical contrivance or appliance. 14.. Acts I. 109/2.
Suilk cruiffis and the ingynys done wythin [them]
?1438 Alex. (c 1580) ii. 3494.
I haue ingynes and rapes … To auale hors
1457 Acts II. 51/2.
That na man in smolt tyme set veschellis, crelys, weris, or ony vther ingyne
1535 Stewart 22747.
All instrument … Or ȝit ingyne in warld that micht be wrocht With mannis wit
1576 Reg. Privy C. II. 515.
[Not] to set girnis … or to vse ony uther ingyne for the slauchter of … wild fowlis
1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 116.
Yrnes, lokis, rodis, keyes, or vther ingyndis and warklomes belonging to the office of javeloury
1581 Burne Disput. 109.
The Caluinist … vil afferme … that ve be certane pilleis or ingeynis ar liftit vp to heauin
1598 Acts IV. 176/1.
Ane artificiall ingyne in making of pompis … quhilkis ingynes all ather gang with wind, water, hors or men [etc.]
1622-6 Bisset II. 249/11.
Twa veschellis befallis to tak heringis … they aucht to lay sa mony ingynis ane as the uthir
1655 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 392.
To buy fra him that ingyne or instrument for watter agains fyre
1683–4 Stirling B. Rec. II. 324.
Ane … accompt of … trees for making ingynes for breaking the yce at the bridge

7. A mechnical device or apparatus for use in war. Chiefly applied to the various kinds of early artillery, also fire-arms.Ingine of firewerk, firework ingine (1567–1603), a fire-arm, see Firewerk n. 1.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 61.
Sum schot withe gunnys and sum vithe ingyne
1533 Bell. Livy I. 94/22.
Twa centuries of smythis … to turs the munycioun and ingynis of chevelry
Ib. II. 147/34.
The towris, sowis, … and other sindri ingynes that thai maid to wyn the toun
1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 104.
For vj score men broucht up the last cannoun battard and ingianes
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1686.
One cityie with ane strang dungeoun That none ingyne may ding it doun
(2) 1591 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 53.
To … assege the said castell … , rais fyir and ws all force and weirlyk ingyne that can be haid for wynning … thairof
1602 Crim. Trials III. 174.1614 Ib. 284. (3) 1603 Reg. Privy C. VI. 519.
An unlauchfull ingyne of weir callit the pittart
c1650 Spalding I. 25.
Except be force of ingyne of warr
1667 Highland P. II. 47.
He beseedged the castle of Stroim and used manie ingines in wining of it
1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. xxxii § 2 (1699) 158.
It is strange that only fire-works or ingines should be forbidden by that Act

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"Ingine n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ingine>

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