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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Twyn(n, Twin(e, v. Also: twynne, twyne, twinne, tuyne, tuin, twene, twayne. P.t. also twinde. P.p. also ytwyn. [ME and e.m.E. twinne(n (Ancr. R.), tuin (Cursor M.), twyn (1340), twynne (Chaucer), twinne (Lydgate), twyne (Hoccleve); Twyn(n adj. (n.).]

1. tr. To part (from), sever, break asunder, separate. Also const. prep.(1) 1375 Barb. viii 175 (see Twane adj. (n.) B 2).
Ytwyn a1500 Henr. Prayer 68.
Lat nocht our slewth ws twyn a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1240.
Quhen fortune worthis vnfrende … Thair ma na tresour ourtak nor twyn hir entent a1497, 15.. Gray MS iv 20.
The rede sey twinnit I thé to flee, I … brocht thé oure & maid thé free a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 765.
With scharpe cordis thai tak That nobill corps quhill thai the banis twyn 1535 Stewart 26618.
[They] faucht all da quhill tuynnit thame the nycht 1551 Hamilton Cat. 98.
Wrechis … quhay be fraud, falset, and gyle twynnis men and thair geir 1595 Three Reformers 115.
At the last death did them twin 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 206.
Gif the bodie had bidden in the first estate, and remained under obedience, these twa [sc. the body and soul] had never been twinned 15.. Sym & Bruder 59.
Or thay twynd him & his dudis The tyme of none wes tareit 1618 Lithgow Poet. Remains 45.
A musket twinde mee and my life 1686 G. Stuart Joco-Ser. Disc. 58.
Twinn'd 16… Ellon Par. 67.
The Lolands of Holands Hes twined my louve and me(2) 1513 Doug. vi vii 11.
Ȝong babbys … Quhom the hasty and blak duylful day Sowkand thar moderis pap had reft away From the swete lyfe twynnyt [Sm. twynnit, Ruddim. twinnit] ontymusly 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 140.
Quhat can twin me fra the love of God? 1613 Misc. Maitl. C. III 33.
Lyke ane auld subtile fox persaving thair drift and … being als cairfull to preserve his heade as thay wer curious to twyne him from it

b. ? To give up, relinquish. 1579 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
The said Hew twinis and transferis all rycht and titill

2. intr. a. Chiefly, of two persons or things: To part, separate.a. a1400 Leg. S. i 667.
Quhen thai suld twyne nedway Paule to Petir thus cane say: ‘Pece be to thé [etc.]' a1400 Leg. S. xxi 978.
Manis syne, That makis God & mane to twyne ?1438 Alex. ii 6881.
We sa sone mon tuin, Forouttin dout I am sory c1420 Wynt. iv 1235.
Thai twa Togyddyr suld in batalle ga, And on na wys than suld thai twyn Quhill ane mycht the tothir wyn, Slayne or yhowdyn in batale a1450 Fifteen Ois 271.
O Jesu … Haue mercy on me … Quhen saule and lyfe sall twyn in tua a1500 K. Hart 533.
It war richt harde thay tua in sunder twin a1500 Peblis to Play 233.
Quhen the winklottis and the wawaris twynnit To se it wes hart sair a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 504 (Asl.).
He that syn can lok in till his chene Be lang vsage of spirituale captiuite It is a speciale grace & euer thai twyn [Harl. twayne, Arund. to wyn] 15.. Clar. v 2080.
Quhan that nature … them denyit had the light of day, Thay most neids twine 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 651.
Tuyne 1604-31 Craig i 38.
How first we met, and how we twind againe a1605 Montg. Sonn. xvii 4.
Thrie treuar hairts, I trou, sall neuer tuin 1604-31 Craig v 34.
As wee twind, they and I, I woke of my dreame

b. To depart, go away, chiefly const. out of this world (lyf), = to die. a1400 Leg. S. vi 697.
& get vs grace, we hynne ma twyne But det, schame & deidly syne a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 1229.
Twine a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 106.
Twyn 1511 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III 107.
He is rycht laytht to twynn without that he gettis in his handis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3228.
Merchand men at hame ay may not dwell Bot in this warld to wander … Quhill of this life that thay depart and twin(b) a1400 Leg. S. iv 375.
God vs grant … Out of this warld that we ma twene But schame, det, or dedly syne

c. To part, separate, go away fra a person, place, etc. a1400 Leg. S. ii 1135.
I pray hyme that I may Of this warld sa depart … That sawle ma fra the body twyne Bot schame, or deit, or dedly syne a1400 Leg. S. xxxiv 182.
Men but nombre … haf I Gert … fra God twyn a1400 Leg. S. xxxix 377.
Verraly helpe thai ws to twyne Fra hyne but det & dedly syne a1500 Henr. Fab. 2950.
The saull of man … fra the bodie may not twyn, Quhill cruell deith cum brek of lyfe the threid 1535 Stewart 11788.
Riches to reif and landis for to wyn Fra this fals warld as thai suld neuir twyn 1535 Stewart 17920.
The Pechtis wald nocht fra the Scottis twyn 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6364.
Fra he and the king did twin … He had ane vthir wob to spin a1570-86 Maitl. F. 363/108.
Luif hes me fangit in to this tyd I may not fra ȝow twyn 1598 Melvill Propine 91.
We are twins, we may not twin, Ane from anothers side

d. To part with; take leave of; give up, renounce. 1521–3 Old Dundee II 311.
It was referrit to his aith how that he twynit and partit with the money. And he … deponit that … the money was arrestit 1535 Stewart 13526.
Tha faucht … for to defend thair rycht And victorie that thai befoir had wyn; Rycht layth tha war with sic honour till twyn 15.. Clar. v 2748.
The depairting pitiouse was trewlie Betwix him and his eame Clariodus. To twin with other thay war dolorus 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 353.
We would never twin with our lusts and affections, if the spirit of God let us not see the ugliness of them 1614 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 188.
To desyr the said caiptanes … to randar ȝow the prisoneris and hous and if thei be loth to twin with the hous that ȝow [etc.] 1611-57 Mure True Crucifixe 38.
As crucified to sinne Readie for Him, with each thing els to twinne Wee labour should 1675 Sel. Biog. II 149.
It is not easy to twin with sin a1689 Cleland 107.
If we with manse and gleib be twin'd, I swear I know no trade behind