Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Slane, Slayn(e, Slain(e, ppl. adj. Also: sclane. [ME and e.m.E. slayn (Wyclif), early ME islein (a1225); Sla v.] Killed, slaughtered, in senses of 3 or 4, 9 b, d, e of Sla v. Also absol. c1308 (?15..) Chart. Coupar A. I 200.
Usque ad metam versus Villam de Banff que dicitur lie slane mannished [Antiq. Aberd. & B. II 312 lie Stanemannishead](1) 1375 Barb. vi 168.
The vpcom wes then Dittit with slayn hors and men c1420 Wynt. iv 741.
Off slayne bodyis … Hepys hey wpstandand ware 1432 Acts II 21/1.
He sall pay to the king xl pundis & the croy to the nerrest of the kyn of the slane man c1515 Asl. MS I 307/12.
Jowallis stripit of slane men 1513 Doug. vii ix 72.
The sclane bodeis away with thame dyd cary 1596 Dalr. I 123/30.
Quhair … ony slane persone hes bene buriit c1650 Spalding I 44.
Hir husbandis lait slayne brother soneabsol. c1420 Wynt. i Prol. 69.
In sacryfyis, the slayne, And noucht the slayare, mon thole the payne 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 42.
What guid hope can we haue of the child borne of sic parentis … what can we luik for but … the heritage of the slaines lychtnes and the motheris iniquitie?(2) 1375 Barb. vi 168 (see (1) above). 1596 Dalr. I 123/9.
His maister receiueng the slane beist, sal restore the skaith to his nychtbour 1662 Crim. Trials III 605.
A slain gryceproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 892.
It is not cold to a slaine mouse(3) 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 343.
The heiring to be callour slayne, stif, cleir [etc.](4) 1516 Fam. Rose 188.
Four slane muttoun 1517 Misc. Spald. C. II 79.
Four slane muttoun, price of the pece iij ss.