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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Saracen(e, -sen(e, -zen(e, n. and adj. Also: Sarasein, Sarracen(e, -zen(e, Sarazan(e; Sar(r)asin(e, -syn(e, -cine, -zine, -zyn(n, -zyne; Sarrezen(e; Sarisen(e, -scene, Saryzine, -zyn(e; Sarisiane; Sariazine; Sarzen(e, -zan(e; (Sazarene). [ME and e.m.E. sar(a)zin (both Cursor M.), Saracen, sarzyn (both Trevisa), sarysyne (Manning), Sarrazin (c1330), sarsyn (a1375), sarasene (Piers Plowman), sarseyne (Lydgate), sarezen (c1449), sarasin (Caxton), sarson (1519), OF sarrasin (1080 in Larousse), OE Sarracene pl., late L. Saracēni pl.]

A. noun. 1. A Saracen; an Arab or other Moslem opponent of the Crusaders.(a) 1375 Barb. i 140.
That was than in the haly land On Saracenys warrayand
Ib. xx 348 (C).
Sarazenis [E. Saryzynys]
Ib. 422.
Sarasenys
a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 905.
Sarasenis
Ib. xxxvi 788.
Sarazanis
c1420 Wynt. i 927.
Thar ar mony Saracenys [W. Sarazenis, C. Sarzanys], Ysmalytys, and Agarenys [etc.]
c1450-2 Howlat 484. 1456 Hay I 104/32.
Suppos the Sarazenis and othir mistrowand folk hald nocht the poyntis of the Ewangele
1490 Irland Mir. I 26/36.
We are nocht his sonis be natur, bot be creacioune and ymage, as are the Saracenis ore the laf
c1515 Asl. MS I 315/23. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 525 (Ch. & M.).
Sarazene [B. Sazarene, M. Saracine], symonyte provit pagane pronunciate
1540 Lynd. Sat. 2305 (Ch.).
Bot vicious men denude of charitie As feinȝeit fals flattrand Saracens
c1552 Id. Mon. 5208. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 50.
Finally thou art made as ane pagan, Saracene or infidele and sall perische for evirmair
15.. Clar. iii 322.
Saraseinis
1596 Dalr. I 340/4. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iv 161.
The Sarazens are descended of Esau
1680 Mackenzie Science Herauldry 90.
His son kill'd a More, who came in with some Sarazens to infest Galloway
(b) c1420 Wynt. v 5668.
Gret Machomete, That Sarracenys thaire prophete Held
Ib. vi 250.
Sarracenes [W. Sarazenis, C. Sarzenes]
1456 Hay I 105/11.
Bot as to mak generale were agayn the Sarrazenis
Ib. II 159/17.
Sa the Sarrazene sperit at the Jowe quhat lay he lyvit apon
1490 Irland Mir. II 82/32.
Infidelis as paganis Jowis Machometistis Sarracenis
?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/2.
We cursis … all thai that helpis the Sarrazenis aganis Cristyn men
a1538 Abell 52a.
The Sarrazenis ar circumcidit
1551 Hamilton Cat. 255.(c) 1375 Barb. xx 478 (E).
Sarazynys
a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 948.
Sarazynns
?1438 Alex. ii 2991.
Alexander … Sittand at the ches playand With ane Sarasyne
a1500 Rauf C. 856.
Sarazine
a1500 MS Rawl. Q. b. 4 fol. 91b.
The strang willis of Sarazynis
15.. Clar. iii 43.
Sarasinis
c1590 J. Stewart 18/105.
The Sarrasin, vith bittir brag and blast Hint out his sourd
(d) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 1119.
Sarrezenis
(e) 1375 Barb. xiii 324 (C).
On Sarisenis [E. Saryzynys] thre derenȝeis did he
Ib. xx 404 (E).
The hey king of Balmeryne With mony a mody Saryzine [C. Sarasyne]
c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5790.
Sariscene
(f) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2195 (B).
Sum sayis ȝe ar a verry loun … Sum sayis ane fals Sarisiane [: certane]
(g) a1400 Leg. S. xxi 653.
Fore Jow, Sariazine & Cristine man In thare degre lufit hyme thane

2. A pagan, a non-Christian more generally. c1420 Wynt. i 612 (W).
Sen God of mycht inclynit wes Till a Sarasyne [sc. Alexander the Great] throuch grace
?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 72.
Julius Cesar … Saxounis [etc.] … All borne Sarazenis vtterlie
1549 Compl. 164/29.
I reffer the expositione of this text to the vniuersal Cristianite to iuge quhiddir that Inglismen be Sarrasyns or Cristin men

B. adj. Saracen; of or pertaining to the Saracens. 1456 Hay I 96/36.
Ane othir king, prince or emperour Sarrazene
Ib. 246/2, etc. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 574.
Wrait nocht in Caldye language … Nor ȝit in to the language Sarazene
Ib. 1777.
Than sum began for to speik Grew, Sum Duche, sum language Sarazyne

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"Saracen n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/saracene>

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