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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.

Undermine, -myne, -mind(e, v. Also: undermynd(e, undirmynd, wndermyne, -mynd, ondir mynd. P.t. and p.p. also undermyneit, -mindet, undirmynet. [ME and e.m.E. undermyne (14th c.), vndirmyne (c1400), under-mine (Lydgate), undermynd (Prompt. Parv.); Mine v.] tr.

1. To excavate or tunnel beneath (something); ? to furnish (something) with an explosive charge at its lower end in order to demolish it.pres. 1513 Doug. viii xi 38.
Sum vndermyndand the grond with a hoill, So that almaist thai wan the forteres 1535 Stewart 32823.
Tha without fillit the fowseis all … And sowis maid the wall to wndermynd 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5293.
To pyke and holk, and vndermine the towre 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 548.
Before the towne did stand the woodden horse; Whilas the ramme the walls is vndermining c1650 Spalding I 260.
Now Edinbrugh intendis to wndermyne the spur, thairby to tak in the castell 16… E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 15.
If any person in casting of peats, do cutt trouble or under mine the moss bridges he shall pay [etc.]p.t. 1570 Leslie 101.
[They] under myndit the neddir sole of the yett of Dumbartane a1578 Pitsc. II 164/7.
The Frinchemen … wnder mynit the toure of the laird of Grange and pat pulder in the wallis thairof 1588 Misc. Maitl. C. II 357.
Thai … holkit and undermyneit the samyne [dyke]p.p. 1550 Dundee B. Ct. II 22 (5 Dec.).
Allegeand that the said James had vndermyndit his sey dyk 1596 Dalr. II 155/10.
The nether port of the castel with ingine of leid pypes subtilie vndermindet … tha schot out the capitan Erskin a1644 Spottiswoode Misc. I 146.
In the late warrs … the churches [were] undermynded and fired c1660 Coll. Aberd. & B. 192.
[In her vision] the wholl Craige … was by ther pynknyves wndermynded and fallen in the sea

b. absol. or intr.c1500 Suffendo, as to ondir mynd; Makc. MS. xiii. 86. 1513 Doug. ii x 91.
Neptune … With his gret mattok … Vndermyndis [Sm. wndermyndis] rownd about the towne, Furth of the grond holkand the barmkyn doun 1533 Boece 240a.
Scottis and Pichtis … denudit the dyke of inemyis syne werkmen vndirmynding with axis, pikkis, mattokis and vthir instrumentis did thare besy cure

c. tr. To break into (a house). c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxiv 43.
Gif the husbandman wist in quhat hour the theef war to cum, certis he wald wake, and suffir nocht his hous to be vndirmynet [W. vndirmynyd, P. vndurmyned; L. perfodi]

2. Of water: To penetrate underneath and weaken (something). 1533 Boece 513b.
Be invndacion & spate of … Tay and Awmond … the wallis of the towne … war vndermyndit and weschin away 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Æn. iii 417.
The earth being undermyndit be the sea

3. fig. and in fig. context. To weaken the position of (a person) by underhand means; to strive secretly to damage or subvert. 1531 Bell. Boece II 301.
To undermind the cuntre be his slichtis 1533 Bell. Livy I 5/4.
Ȝe may gett stories to ȝoure appetite Richt proffittabill till undermynde ȝoure fais a1570-86 Arbuthnot in Maitl. F. 56/38.
He that can best his nychtbure vndermyne Is haldin scharpe, weill wirkand and wittie 1583 Melvill 158.
The guid ordour of the Kirk, the quhilk Adamsone durst first undermynd secretlie … and thairefter opinlie oppung 1605 Faithfull report of proceedings anent the Assemblie of Ministers at Abirdeen.
Satan would blemish the gospell and underminde the Kirk 1625 Garden Kings 71.
True maiestie to marre and vndermind 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 248.
I think not to be vndermindit with the subtilitie of my avine browe 1638 Henderson Serm. 159.
Ilk sin that they committed pyked out a stone & undermynded the walls, so their awin sins were their ruin 1638 Baillie I 149.
Though we had been dumb, who did hear and see our Church undermynded with such instruments