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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.

(Vineȝard,) Vinȝard, Wyneȝard(e, n. Also: vinyard, winȝarde, vynyeard, wynya(i)rd(e, -gard, wineȝarde, -ȝaird, wyneȝaird, -ya(i)rd(e. [ME and e.m.E. vynȝerd (a1340), vineȝard (Trevisa), vyneȝerd (1432-50), vine yerd (Caxton), vynyarde (1535), wynyard (1562).] A place where grape vines are grown, a vineyard, chiefly with reference to ancient, esp. biblical, times. b. fig. A sphere of labour, specif. of a spiritual sort, teaching and preaching Christianity, chiefly the Lordis (Goddis) wyneȝarde.(a) a1500 Henr. Orph. 337.
Thare fand he Acab and quene Jesabell, Quhilk sely Nabot, that was a prophet trewe, For his wyne yarde [B. wyne ȝaird, Asl. wyne-ȝard] wyth-outyn pitee sleue c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xiii 6.
A man had a fig tree planntit in his wyneyarde 1533 Bell. Livy II 147/17.
Thai lauboure nocht thare landis & thare wyne ȝardis ar waistit with weris 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 145.
We wyl compair the Worde of God to the wyne-ȝarde 1571–2 S. Leith Rec. 187/2.
The pepill … efter thair returning out of Babilon delt sa vnmercyfullie with the pure … that the pure wer compellit to lay thair wineȝairds and thair housis in wed for corne to eit 1607 Reg. Great S. 722/2.
Ville de Corstorphin, cum terris ei adjacen … cum … universis hortis de C. (exceptis lie wyne-yairdis, litill-gairdene, meikill-yaird, circuat within the hedging) 1673 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Processes No. 176.
Maister Robert Bowes … hes takene violent possesioun in that yaird pertaines to me quhich is lyk Nabothes wyne yaird to him(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark xii 1.
Wynyard [W. vyneȝerd, P. vynȝerd] c1520-c1535 Nisbet I 11.
The parabile of the wyngard 1600-1610 Melvill 476.
The fruict of the vynyeardb. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1293.
Trawale thar-for all thi mycht In Goddis wyne-ȝarde for to vyne 1557 Knox IV 271.
Suffer na man without … examinatioun to tak upon him the office of a preacher … for yf everie man sall entir at his awn appetit in the wynyaird of the Lord [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I 45/10, 19.
I … pray that the Lorde of the wineȝarde send vs lauchfull treu workmen thairto … to schut out … the proude schismatikis … quha in hie arrogance of thair maister Lucifer trampis down the heuinlie incres … of the samyn winȝarde drest … be the former workmen 1569 Reg. Privy C. I 681.
The said Johnne left the said place and enterit in the Lordis wyneyaird, planting the gospell of trewth according to the smal talent gevin unto him 1596 Dalr. II 467/26.
Mr. Ninian … was a faithful labourer in the Lordes vinȝard, ernist, and bissie 1652 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 654.
Very useful and profitable servants in the Lords Vinyard 1661 Stockholm New Year's Gift Sig. A 4b.
Yet the Lord reserved Himself a litle wynyarde in Scotland, in the vhich He had some plants of grace, to sou the seed of the vord