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.
Quotation dates: 1450-1452, 1649-1683
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Schenachy, n. Also: chen-, shann-, san(n)-. [Gael. seanachaidh a reciter of ancient lore, a historian, f. OIr. seanachas history, genealogy.] ‘A professional recorder and reciter of family history, genealogy, traditions, etc., attached to the household of a clan chieftain or person of high rank’ (SND, s.v. Shenachie n.). — c1450-2 Howlat 803 (A).
Thir ar his Irland kingis … O Conochor O Gregre Makgrane The schenachy [B. chenachy], the clarschach The ben schene the ballach … Scho kennis thaim ilkane a1650 Buchanan's Hist. MS Index.
Sannachies 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 215.
The sanachies, which are a sort of men … entertain'd by the dynnywossels of the Highlands to keep and rehearse the genologies … of their ancestors at their jollities 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 6.
In the histories … written by their senecios or shannachies [etc.]
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"Schenachy n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/schenachy>
