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

Warnis, -ys(e, v. Also: warnes, varnis, -ys, -eis. [ME warnyssh (14th c.), warnis (Cursor M.), warnise (c1330), AF warniss-, warnir, OF garnir; Garnis v.]

1. tr.To provide, supply, equip (a place, fortification, etc.) with the manpower and resources necessary for defence.In quot. Wynt. (W) there may be some formal confusion with Warn v.³p.t. 1375 Barb. ix 288.
Schyr Dauid … Fled till Brechyne his awine castell And warnyst [C. varnyst] it bath fayr & weill c1420 Wynt. viii 4120.
Willame Bollok the Castelle Off Cowpyr held, and it warnysyde [C. warnyst, W. warnyt] wellep.p. 1375 Barb. iv 102.
Thai with-oute disparyt war … For thai sa styth saw the castell And with [C. wist] that it wes warnyst [C. varnist] weill 1375 Barb. x 316.
Till Edinburgh he went in hy … & set a sege to the castell That than wes warnyst [C. varnyst] wonder weill With men and wyttalis at all rycht 1375 Barb. xvi 219.
Rychard off Clar the way has tane To Dewillyne … With other lordys that fled him by, And warnysyt bath castellis & townys That war in thar possessiownys 1375 Barb. xvii 713.
The schipmen … Come with thar schippis till assaill With top-castell warnyst [C. warnist] weill Off wicht men armyt in-to steill c1475 Wall. iv 214.
A small peill, That warnyst was with men and wittaill weill

2. To protect with armour, to defend with troops. Also reflex. 1375 Barb. vi 122.
He wes warnyst [C. varnysit] of armyng That he thar arowys thurth nocht dreid ?1438 Alex. ii 7896.
Now pray I that ȝour geir be dicht … Sa that … We be … Armit with speiris and with blasounis … The standart dressed vp of Inde, That Gaudefere it varnist finde!reflex. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 726.
One thare best wyse Inne thare armoure they thame warnyse c1420 Wynt. iv 1313.
Thai … warnyst thame rycht welle wyth-oute Wytht all thare marcharys thame abowte

b. reflex.To equip oneself with a resource. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 797.
Thar-with warnyst [he] hym sa That of a penny he mad twa

3. passive.Of a person or group: To be endowed of, in (= with) a quality, skill, etc. ?1438 Alex. i 1612.
King Alexanderis menȝe, Varneist all of grete bounte, Thocht thai war few, thai bare thame weil ?1438 Alex. ii 1786.
We wald se gledly his bounte, And how his corps of cumpany Is warnest and of courtessy ?1438 Alex. ii 6081.
That is great ryches, Great treasure and great nobilnes, And gif thay sagait varnist be, Vnvarnist ar we nocht, parde! c1420 Wynt. ii 650.
This Gedeyl-Glays was off gret pyth And warnyst weyle off wyt thar wyth 1460 Hay Alex. 551.
Than Alexander was warni[s]t mychtilie In wit wisdome and science of clergie

b. Of a place: To be furnished with a resource. c1400 Troy-bk. i 247.
And … thai woddys warnyst were In-to haboundance of wyld dere