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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.

Senis, Seynis, Scheines. Also: Senys, Senyis, Seins, Seanis, Sheins, Sheynes, -is, Cheyn(i)s. [Siena, the Italian town.] Sciennes, the convent of St. Katharine of Siena, in Edinburgh; used, in post-Reformation times, as a hospital for victims of the plague. Also attrib. with wallis.In later use as a place-name. 1516–17 Prot. Bk. J. Foular III 9.
To Josina Henderson and to the laif of the sisteris of the ordour of Sanct Katerine de Senis 1527 Treas. Acc. V 301.
Ane el crammessy satyne to be [the] bawby Jhesus of the Senyis ane coit 1569 Edinb. B. Rec. III 267.
The baillies and counsell, persaving that it hes plesit God of his mercefull gudnes to deliuer this toun of the pest, thay ordane that all sic as ar in the Senys be put to the clene mvre 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 30. 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 570.
For bying of the benefice of the Seynis fra maister James Durhame to the vse of the College to be foundet in the Kirk of Feild 1585 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 416.
Als to big swa mony tofallis as he sall fynd necessar in the Kirk of the Seynis for thame that sall be clengeit a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 36.
Katherine … enterit and was ane sister of the ordour of Sanct Katherine of the Senis [Geneal. Setoun 31 Seins] 1602 Edinb. B. Rec. V 301.
To caus mak lokis and keyis and put on the durris of the Seanis 1603 Edinb. B. Rec. V 323. 1644–5 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 421.
For 300 dealls sent from Leith to the Scheines at two severall tymes to be ludges and a devisione thorrow the yaird betwixt the cleine and foull peopill 1652 Johnston Diary II 170.
I got liberty in the grace in the Sheins, and then I walked an houre in the yaird remembring the Lord 1669 Edinb. B. Rec. X 70.
And from the Potterraw port outward to the Cheynis 1681 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 26.
The magistrats for the tyme being granted warrand to the petitioner to possess the Cheyns walls in liew therofattrib. 1645 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 71.
The counsell finding the abuse of the inputting of the seik folkis of the contagioun within the Sheynes wallis to be neglectit [etc.] 1665 Edinb. B. Rec. IX 377.
Sheynis