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

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Montan(e, Mountain(e, -an(e, n. Also: montain(e, -ayn(e, -aigne, -angne, -ean, monttane; mountayn(e, -aigne, -en; muntain(e. [ME. montaine (Layamon), monetain(e (Cursor M.), ME. and e.m.E. mounteyn (Lydgate), mont-, mountain, -ayne, etc., muntayne (14th c.), OF. montaigne (F. montagne).] c1616 Hume Orthog. ii.
We commonlie wryt mountan, fountan, quhilk it wer more etymological to wryt montan, fontan, according to the original

A mountain, a (more or less high) hill.For further examples see Mos n. 2 and 3.Also fig. or in fig. contexts.(1) sing. (a) c1475 Wall. vii. 784.
Thus Wallace ost … Our a montayne sone passit off thar sicht 1494 Loutfut MS. 18 b.
Sua com thai and discendit ane montaigne 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 123.
The montayne of the Lord salbe the top of the montanes(b) 1375 Barb. x. 24 (E).
On athyr halff the montane was Swa combrows, hey and stay [etc.] a1500 Rauf C. 793.
Euin to the montane [supra this mure] he maid him full boun 1531 Bell. Boece I. xl.
In Gareoth is ane hill namit Doundore, that is to say the goldin montane Id. Livy I. 238/25.
At thar bakkis was ane strait montane or cleuch 1533 Boece i. viii. 52 b.
Ane heich montane 1533 Gau 82/9.
The sueit sermond … apone the montane 1549 Compl. 37/15.
Besyde the fut of ane litil montane 1596 Dalr. I. 55/26.(c) 1600-1610 Melvill 178.
On his holie montean(d) 1456 Hay I. 12/7.
Be the quhilk mountayn ardent is understandin herisy Ib. 41/36.
Romel … strake on his brothir … and slewe him in the mountaigne(e) 1456 Hay I. 41/23.
Remy past up first to the mountane with his menȝe 1596 Dalr. I. 13/23.
Be a gret mountane 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 2.
By a mountane called Ordplur. (a) 1461 Liber Plusc. 382.
Baith stankis and louchis and waleis of montayns a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 233.
Montains c 1639 Sc. Ant. III. 132.
In Ross there be great mountaignes of marble and alabaster(b) 1375 Barb. iii. 371.
The King … Wandryt amang the hey montanys Ib. viii. 3. c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2775.
Ane cuntre … full of rochis & montangneze c1475 Wall. v. 241.
Montanys a1500 Rauf C. 22.
Amang thay myrk montanis a1500 Rois Garlandis 437. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 164/16.
Thai ga to the montanis and lepis downe 1513 Doug. xii. xii. 20 (B).
As thir montanys excedis the knollys abowt 1531 Bell. Boece I. 186.
In winter … the deir ar constranit to discend fra the montanis to the planis 1533 Boece i. v. 41 b.
Ane pepill … duelling amang certane montanis 1549 Compl. 2/18.
The rauand sauuage volffis of strait montanis ande vyild forrestis 1567 G. Ball. 109.
The montanis muifit & ran athort lyke rammis 1622-6 Bisset II. 414/22.
The name of the monttanes(c) 1610 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 161.
Taiking the said Patrick … to the muntaines to haue murdrit him(d) 1456 Hay I. 115/26.
The spate wateris of the grete mountanis 1596 Dalr. I. 6/10.
Amang the mountanis and hiche cuntreyis(e) 1596 Dalr. I. 274/26.
Mountenis(2) a1500 Henr. Orph. 29.
sing. Apone the mountane of Elicone a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 337.
I perambolit of Parnaso the montane 1513 Doug. ix. x. 67.
In Berecyntia montane hie 1562-3 Winȝet I. 43/3.
On the hyech montane Hor c 1600 Pitsc. (1814) I. xv.
The montane Grampius is evill favoured and craigie 1596 Dalr. I. 9/16.plur. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 304/25.
Thar is … Mont Oreb and … the montanis of Gilboy 1513 Doug. vi. xiv. 59.
Our the Franch montanys Discendand doun Lumbardy throu the planys 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxx.
The montanis of Granyebane Id. Livy I. 15/1.
The montanis namyt Alpes(3) c1616 Hume Orthog. 3.
fig. If it can confer anie thing to the montan of your majesties praise 1642 Humble Petition … Commissioners of the Kirk 4.
The strongest let till it be taken out of the way is the mountaine of prelacy(4) 1588 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 649.
proverbs That the King our maister hes of all the goolddin montaines offerit receavit a fidler's vages a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1040; a1605 Montg. Misc. P. v. 48.
Men may meit bot montaines may not a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1633.
There is mosse in a montane [etc.] Ib. No. 1829.
Ye mak a montane of a midge

b. Applied to: A mound or rampart constructed to overlook a beseiged fortification. — 1573 Sempill Sat. P. xxxix. 91.
The castell segit and all beset about … Montanis and myndis leit neuer man luik out

c. transf. A large pile or heap (of certain things). — 1375 Barb. xi. 601.
Ane montane was Of vapnys that war varpit thair

d. Attrib. and comb.With -bra, -fairy, -people, -side, -top.Mountain-man, a dweller in the mountains (of Scotland), a Highlandman; also, a name given to a fugitive Covenanter in hiding in the hills.Mountain-wine, a variety of Malaga wine. (Mod. Eng., 1710.)(1) 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 38.
Montane toppis slekit with snaw Ib. xi. 139.
The layk or well [L. lacus] Of Cymynyk vndre the montane bra 1596 Dalr. I. 86/3.
We … cal thame quha dwel in the montanis … the mountane people, thay vse thair alde Irishe toung 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas ii. 300.
Montaine faryes did bewaile the chance(2) 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1015.
He dantoun'd hes his montane mein 1690 A. Shields Grievances and Sufferings 25.
The greatest employment, that that great army had in hand and heart, was to wreck … all their fury … upon the poor mountain-men as they called us(3) 1700 Stirling B. Rec. II. 346.
Given to the provest for mountaine wyne to keip in his hous to entertaine gentlemen and strangers