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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.

Innis, n. Also: in(n)ys, -(e)s, -eis, in(i)s. [ME. innis, -es (Cursor M.), innen (c 1205), plur. (in sing. sense) of in(n In n. Chiefly Sc.]

1. Lodgings, quarters; a lodging-place, place of sojourn. 1375 Barb. ii. 1.
The Bruys went till his innys swyth 14.. Acts I. 11/2.
Gif ony … to the quhilkis the lord of the land hes geyffin bidding to herbery sic men and thai be put furth be the host of thar innis fastand [etc.] c1420 Wynt. vii. 2987.
In to the innys … , Quhare that the Erle off Athole lay, A fell fyre hym to colys brynt ?1438 Alex. ii. 4883.
Towart the oist of Ind he went, And at his innis lychtit he is c1475 Wall. iv. 381.
For him he gert ane innys graithit be, Quhar nane suld cum bot his awne men and he 1498 Treas. Acc. I. 384.
In Dunde, giffin to Curry for his innys and bed 15.. Clar. ii. 1820.
Everie lord anone Hes taine his leive, syne to his inis is gone 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6314.
Quhair thair is pryde, grace can not byde, Out of that rowme beliue he rinnis … To lawlynes to seik ane innis 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. x.
Sen God hes taken in the kirk for his owne innes, let it suffice thee … to ligge in the court without

b. To ta(k) (one's) innys, to take up one's quarters, to lodge (temporarily). 1375 Barb. xiv. 90.
Thar fais … Syne to Cragfergus ar thai gane And in the toune has innys tane a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 723.
Thane tyd … thire ȝungmen twa Thar inys in that house to ta, Quhare thare modir had gestnyng c1420 Wynt. iii. 747.
Innys he tuk and bad rycht thare Ib. iv. 2656.
Joseph wyth Mary … Hys innys tuk in swyk a hous c1590 Fowler I. 53/150.
The ins that I did tak … was then the wellis and woods

c. At innys, lodged, in residence as a guest. 1428 Liber Aberbr. 58.
The said John Vernour … als lang as the forsaid abbot beis within hym at innys sal be on the abbotis cost

2. A person's residence or dwelling-place; a house, esp. one in a town; a town-residence. Also transf. a1400 Leg. S. xxx. 116.
Than duelt thare in the reu Nere his innys [supra, his awne hame] I spek of nov Ane ald wyf 1388 Douglas Chart. 33.
So sal nocht be removyt ovt off na innys na ezis that so had befor a1500 Henr. Fab. 262 (Asl. 101).
In till ane innes thair herbery was tane 1474 Treas. Acc. I. 52.
Gevin to a currour passand to the Bischope of Dunkeldyn to mak his innys be abelȝet for the ambaxatouris 1493 Dunferm. B. Rec. 48.
In the first the southtmest innys … liand on the est syd of the Nevrav c1500-c1512 Dunb. lii. 13.
The wyff, that he had in his innys 1525 Misc. Bann. C. III. 108.
I leife to my bruder Sir William Sincler … my innes in Edinbrucht wyth the pertinentis 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 648/1.
In the auld inis in the nedder chalmer [infra, My lordis chalmer in the auld luiging] 1612 Acts IV. 494/2.
The archideanes ancient mans, commounlie callit the Archedeanes Innestransf. 1513 Doug. xii. x. 92.
The beys within … With mekill dyn and bemyng in thar innys

3. A lodging-house or hostelry; an inn. 15.. Clar. iv. 2315.
Into ane lustie innis ludgit thay c1563 Reg. Panmure I. xxxiii.
Robert Leslie quha … held the chief innes of the heale towne for noble men a1585 Polwart Flyt. 200.
The lords and lairds … , Whilk in ane innes will be content To leiv, and lett ther hous in lent 1616 Irvine Mun. II. 48.
That in everrie burgh … thair may be according to … the frequencie of travellouris a mor sewer innes buldit 1638 Baillie I. 97.
At last all three … went to Newcastle, and there lives as they may in ane common innes 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 38.
Some Flamans had come to the toune and had taken up quarters in a certain innesattrib. 1649 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII. 216.
That ilk taverner and inneis keiper put forth leight and lanternes befoir their doores