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

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

Than(e, n.² Also: thain(e, thean(e. [Var. of Fane n.] a. A vane, a metal plate having the form of a flag or banner, esp. one bearing a coat of arms; a weathercock. b. A pennant.a., b. 1496 Treas. Acc. I 286.
Item, for xiij dowbill platis to be thanis to the pailȝounis, ix s. ix d. 1496 Treas. Acc. I 297.
To Johne Pret, payntour, for paynting of pailȝoune thanis and the kingis coetearmour iij li. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1431.
A palice stude with mony royall towris … And goldin thanis [L. fanys] waifand with the wind 1503 Treas. Acc. II 370.
To Wille, lorymar, in pairt of payment of the making of the thanis for the Abbay of Halyrudhous, xx s. vj d. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 384.
To Gilbert Fisch xxxij Inglis grotis, weyand four unce, to the thanis of the schip … xlij s. viij d. … for making of the said thanis, ij½ unce of his silver to thaim and for gilting of thaim iiij li. 1534–5 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 128.
The prekkettis that the thanis standis on a1538 Abell 15a.
He efter the rit of gentilis he multiplit the thanis of ydollis rasand hecht stanis in cirkill about in the maner of Egiptiance 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 186.
To … William Hyll in spindillis to thanis 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 190.
The coimpt of thanis gret and small … for vi gret copper thanis making and schering ilk pece v s. for ii mydling thanis ii s. 1535–6 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 191.
For the xxii manikynnis with xxii thanis upone the hedis of the ii roundis gilting and cullering [sc. at Holyrood] 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 215. 1542 Rentale S. Andree 142. 1570 Sat. P. xxii 84.
Lyke wauering thane, thy process vane Will brew the bitter gall 1590 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. 399.
To Dawid Nicolsoune belman … that day he put vp the cok & thanes vpone the prickes off the stepill ii s. 1631–2 Glasgow B. Rec. II 503. 1666 Lamont Diary 140.
He buelt a crosse … beyonde James Lundys howse … 5 steps high rownd abowt, and in the middest of itt, a long peice of wood standing vp, with a thane on itt, having Er. D. W. and C. M. W. cutt owt of the iyron 1682 Elgin Rec. II 312.
To John Burges for making the thane to the church £6 13 s. 4 d.(b) 1587-99 Hume 27/55.
The glansing thains, and vitre bright, Resplends against the sunne 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 84.
To Thomas Foster for a thaine in the turnepyk heid in the castell vi lib. xiii s. iiii d. 1664 Lamont Diary 174.
He was caried to the church in that same coach that the Earl of Leuen was caried in, with that same pale wpon it, with 4 thains of whyte iyron aboue it with his 8 branches on them(c) 1628 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 240.
For lenthning of the taes of the theane for the lyoun and the dressing thairof xiii s. iiii d. 1685 Stirling B. Rec. II 327.
Item, to John Patersone for finding the thean, 4 s. 1695 Soc. Ant. II 234.
[Funeral expenses] For 12 theans on the horse ears … [£18] … for guilding and making 12 little knaps for the tops of the theans on the horse ears [£2 8 s.], for blaking the fraim of the lozang armes and the 12 priks for the theans on the horse ears [£2 8 s.] … for ane ell of blak cord tafity to be the theans on the horse ears [£4 16 s.] … for 2 doȝen of leases tay the brew peaces and theans [4 s.] 1695 Soc. Ant. II 235.
To ane taylor for shewing the searge to the lozange armes and making up the knots of ribans and shewing the socats to the theans on the horses ears [18 s.]