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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prenti(s)-, Prentei(s)s(c)hip, n. Also: prenty-, prentic-, prente- and -s(c)hip(p)e, -schep, -chip; also ? prenteus- or ? prentens-. [e.m.E. prentyship (1553), prenticeship (1581).]

1. Apprenticeship, in the usual senses. Also attrib. with siluer.(1) 1516 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 39.
The said Jhone sal byd at his prentischip … be the space of fywe yeris 1525 (1527) Reg. Great S. 96/2.
Prentischip 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 402.
To Peris Rowane till pay for his twa sonnys prentyschip in France at the gunnar craft … xl li. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3884.
Without he [a tailor] can mak doublet, coat, and gown, He man gang till his prenteischip againe 1571 Sempill Sat. P. xxviii 54.
Than twa ȝeiris noueis … Ȝond in Kiluinning my prentischip I past 1596 St. A. Baxter Bks. 61.
At his entrie to his prenteiship before he becum bund 1602 Colville Paraenese 16.
Thai must pass thair prentischip befor thai be maid maisters 1613 Glasgow Weavers 25. 1624 Edinb. Test. LII 274 b.
His ȝoungest sone to be peyit … at the ischew of his prenteischipe … the sowme of xxx li. money 1638 Moses Bundle No. 2, 10335 in Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXXI 177.
During the hail spaces of their prenteisschipis 1674 Vernon Freemasonry in Roxburghshire 62 (see Lose n.). 1686 Murray Lyon Hist. Lodge Edinb. 20.
Prenticshippe 16.. Crail Squaremen 27.
That ane prentis learnitt within the toun sall nott be mead frie till thrie yieris efter his prentischip(2) 1559 Peebles B. Rec. I 254.
As vse of prenteuschip [or prenten-] is 1586 Edinb. Skinners in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 62.
That Dauid Thomesoun … serwe owt his fywe ȝeiris of prenteschip, … witht sum maister of that woccaioun [sic in pr.] 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (S.T.S.) 22 heading.
The … prentisshippe of them that giues themselues to [sorcery] 1658 Glasgow Weavers 23.
David Arnot … sall give him all sort of abulyeament necesser as becumes dureing the said tyme of prentischipe(3) 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I 82.
All manir of prentice … sall stand in prenteischip for … sevin ȝeirs 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 51.
The said Rechert sal rasaiff Jhone Broun in prentischep to the craft of cordanerschep 1531 Glasgow Prot. IV 43.
George Bwrell … hes tane in prenteischip Patrik Dwnlop … to the saydlar craft 1549 St. A. Baxter Bks. 5.
Becaus the said James refusit the said Duncane to be in prentischip with hyme [etc.] 1557 Inverness Rec. I 10.
He ressaid to hym in prentechip Jamie M^cDoneattrib. 1520 Edinb. B. Rec. I 199.
The said bonetmakaris till pay thar vpsettis and prentischip siluer to the said craft [etc.]

2. = Prentis fee (see Prentis n. 1 b (2)). 1496 Edinb. Hammermen 17.
Thir ar my ressaits of the wpsettis & prenteschippis deliuerit & gadderit 1531–2 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 121.
That umquhill Lory Down gaif ane aiker of land … in prenteschip to my fadir … for seven yeiris to lern Thome Down the craft 1541 Perth Hammermen 43.
That ane prenteschip of twa marks be spendit for the honestie of the craft on … Corpus Christi day eftirnone