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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Organ(e, n. Also: orgain. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. organ(e, orgne, etc., OF. organe, L. organa pl. of organum instrument, musical instrument, in Christian writers also ‘church-organ’.]

1. The musical instrument, the organ.In the record sources, the reference is appar. always or nearly always to the larger type of organ, as used in church. In some of the instances in verse, reference might conceivably be to the small portable organ, the portative.a. Orig. and chiefly plur., freq. denoting a single instrument, perh. because of its composite character: so also ME. (c 1330), e.m.E. and mod. Eng., and med. L. organa pl.b. Ane pair (= set) of organis, an organ, id.: so also e.m.E. and mod. Eng. (1496–1714).Also cant-organe: see Cant n.¹ a and s.v. in H.H. Carter A Dictionary of Middle English Musical Terms (Indiana Univ. Press, 1961, repr. 1968).c. Rarely sing., only in verse. (Also ME, e.m.E. and mod. Eng.)a. c1450-2 Howlat 763 (A).
The dulset [etc.] … , The amyable organis vsit full oft, Claryonis [etc.] 1459–60 Ayr B. Ct. 160 (4th Jan.).
The haile comite has coft … viii daker of hidis … to the organis 1486 Misc. Spald. C. V. 30.
To Robert Huchonsoun for his seruice in the queir and plaing on the organis 1494 Edinb. Hammermen 5.
For … blawin of the organis on Sanct Loyis day Ib. 7.
For vle doly … to the organis on Sanct Loys ewin 1496 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 339.
He sale … teche … ale barnis under his cure … to sing and play one the organis 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 128.
The organis of tree Ib. 129.
To ij childir that bure the organis and thair bellysis our the Month 1506–7 Ib. III. 362.
To the chanoun of Halyrudhous that mendit the organis 1511–12 Ib. IV. 276.
To Gilleam, organist, makar of the Kingis organis, for expens maid be him one the said organis in gait skynnis and parchment 1513 Ib. 523, 524. a1500 Seven S. 2520.
Thai blewe organis & rang the bellis With trumpe & talburn [etc.] 1518 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 95.
[The] player on thair organis, aucht d. of Sanct Nicholes braid euery Sonday 1536–7 Ayr B. Acc. 20.
For candill to the organis in wynter at the evinsangis 1554–5 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 358. 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (Treble) 176.
[He] wes a trim playar vpon the organs 1567 G. Ball. 93.
Blaw up organis, with glaid and heuinlie sound 1574 Aberd. Eccl. Rec. 19.
That the organis … be removit out of the kirk a1578 Pitsc. I. 379/27. 1585 9th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 192/2.
In the rewestrie within the greit chapell … ane pair of belleis for organis 1649 Acts VI. ii. 389/2.b. 1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII. 55.
For ane pair of organis deliverit to the chapell in Halyrudhous lx li. 1557–8 Ib. X. 330. 1561–2 Ib. XI. 109.
To Williame Makdowale, maister of werk, for ane pair of organis, quhilkis wes recoverit … be him 1719 Life and Death of Sharp 15.
If the pipe and bags be yet in the prelats possession, … it is like he may now … gift them to some landart church, to save the expences of a pair of organsc. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 504.
Monycord, orgain, tympane and symbell c1500-c1512 Dunb. vii. 22.
With sowne of clarioun organe song and sence Id. lxxxvi. 15 (A).
Quhar cherubim sweit syngis osanna With organe tympane harpe & symbalyne c1550 Lynd. Test. Meldrum 157. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 627.

d. Attrib. and comb., chiefly in sing. form.See also Organ(e)-loft.(1) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 446.
Deliverit to Schir Walter Ramsay in Linlithtqw to the organe werk thare 15.. Clar. v. 1770.
The mes was song … With organ sound and thimphand melodious 1587 Carmichael Etym. 33.
Organe pipes 1611 Edinb. Marriages 36.
Organmaker c1650 Spalding II. 124.
He causit tak doun the organ cace, quhilk wes of fyne wanescot(2) plur. 1536 Liber Offic. S. Andree 135.
xviij d. pro le organis playing

2. The means through which an action is carried out. 1568 Buch. Indict. 33.
The Quene … wes the verray instrument, cheiff organe and causer of that vnnaturall crueltie

3. A bodily organ.Also Vane organ(e (the jugular vein). c1616 Hume Orthog. 17.
With quhat organes of the mouth they be broaken Ib. 18.