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

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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.

Wydnes, Wid(e)nes, n. Also: wyidnes, vidnes, wednes, voidnes. [ME and e.m.E. widnesse (a1225), wydnes (c1320), wydenes (Rolle), widenesse (1585), OE wídnes.] a. Width, distance from side to side, a particular distance. Also fig. b. Great size with reference to width. c. Great extent, vastness, extensiveness.a. 1508 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 117.
And to be of lenth the ruf sparris according to the widnes of the hous 1518 Prot. Bk. J. Foular II 33.
To be of siclyk hicht deipnes and wydnes as it was befor 1521 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 174.
Twa stane corbalis to the widnes of the said … chymnay 1527 Edinb. B. Rec. I 230.
To … haif the space of widnes therto on the west syd the said Thomas new land … that ane barrow … may eselie pas 1542 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 19 Dec.
Ane fowsy to be castyne … the vidnes and quantite to be at thair discretion 1542 Soc. Ant. III 161.
The remanent of the said queir tobe endit of the lenthe and widenes as it is foundit 1587 Acts III 522/1.
The wydnes and braidnes of the quhilk firlot … sall contene auchtene insches 1616 Conv. Burghs III 33.
That the bilge of the said barrells sall be maid les and the heids thairof of ane gritter wydnes 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II 340.
That the kirnellis … salbe fyue futes in wyidnes within 1645 Kinghorn Kirk S. 59.
That they would give him libertie to make his seat wyder with ansrable bounds in wydnes to that which Grainge his two formest seats have 1648 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 145.
And ane inshe of wydnes betuix ilk daill 1658 Glasgow B. Rec. II 401.
Ilk candle hous is to be ten elles of lenth and fyve elles of wydnes(b) 1541–2 Edinb. Guild Ct. 16 Feb.
Ane vther hie windo of vj futis hecht … & ane half wednes(c) 1687 Inverness Rec. II 347 (see Wyd(e adj. 2 b (b)).
Voidnessfig. 1674 Laing MSS 398 n.
So at leist the wydnes of our breach may be contractedb. 1596 Dalr. I 46/27.
In the kirk of … Petty ar keipit the banes of … litle Johne … quhais wydnes of his banes and gretnes teiches that he was xiiii fute langc. 1612 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bk. (ed.) 20.
Thift is so comoun in this cuntrey and rowing and pulling of scheip quhilk can hardly be tryed in respect of the wydnes of the bowndis 1617 Acts IV 556/2.
The wyidnes and gryit boundis of the said parochin