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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Chalange, Chalance, v. Also: challang(e, chalandge, challandis, chal(l)enge, chalingse, chellenge; challance, chal(l)ans. [ME. chalange, chalenge, etc. (c 1300), OF. chalanger, -enger (ONF. calenger, Prov. calonjar, L. calumniāre). For the forms in -ance, -ans, cf. the noun.]

1. tr. To call (a person) in question; to charge or accuse of some offence or fault.(a) 14.. Acts I. 25/2.
Gif a burges be chalangyt be ane uplandis man of ony thyft fundyn with hym in his hous Ib. 331/2.
Of the maner to chalange the balȝeis. In the first that thai do … nocht … richt and resoun quhene thai ar requerit c1420 Wynt. v. 2487.
He ordanyd … that na pagane, Or herytik, a Crystyn man Chalange suld on ony way Ib. vii. 3068.
The Besatys … That chalangyd ware off that felny 1456 Hay I. 236/8.
And thai had maid ony fault … thay may be of that thing … chalangit be law in jugement 1459 Peebles B. Rec. 131.
John Lyllay yonger was chalangit … of … the takyn of his fader gudis c1460 Wisd. Sol. 541.
Puure innocentis that be mychty wykyt men ar chalangit in this erd 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9082.
Thay … Baith day and nicht sall ȝow chak and espy To se gif thay can chalange ȝow with crime 1584 Reg. Privy C. III. 682.
His Hienes subjectis … may thairby be chalangeit and reduceit to the acknawledgeing of thair offences 1606 Rec. Old Aberd. I. 40.
Thow ar presentlie chalingsit and tein with twa stollin scheip 1620 Urie Baron Ct. 33.
[Stealers of peas] sall pey for ewerie tyme … thay be chalengit … fourtie shilings 1629 Bk. Carlaverock II. 114.
Give your Lordship doe, I shall chalange yow for wnkindnes 1693 Melville Chart. 230.
Rather than chalange and upraide any of their carriage, to regrait their being seduced and misled(b) 14.. Acts I. 9/2.
Of hym that is challangyt of art and part of thyft c1520-c1535 Nisbet III. 104.
He mycht be challangit, as he had takin money 1622-6 Bisset I. 253/20.
Any frieman … challanged be any of the burgesis … for any caus of det [etc.](c) 1375 Barb. xix. 60.
Gud schir Dauid the Brechyne Thai gert challans [E. chalance] richt stratly syne 1585 Acts III. 406/1.
Seing thair hes bene greit nowmer … quha … war challancit and persewit … for juning and assisting with thame 1646 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 91.
That for quhilk Francis was chalancit was that he said to the baylyies. … that he wald anger the best of thame

b. To challenge in respect of rightful ownership. (Cf. 3.) 14.. Acts I. 29/2.
Gif ony burges be challangyt of his lande … in burgh Ib.
Gif a man challangyt of his lande be passit in pilgrimage

2. To summon or invite defiantly. Also absol., to deliver a challenge. 14.. Acts I. 24/2.
Gif ony burges be chalangyt of bataile and he be passit elde to fecht [etc.] c1515 Asl. MS. I. 212/10.
The Erll of Mar challangit the erll merschell of Yngland 1513 Doug. iii. vi. 189.
Thocht the tyde And prospir wyndis challance thé to the saill Ib. v. xiii. 7.
Sowtht pipand wyndis … Challancis to pas on burd and tak the deip Ib. xi. v. 87.
Nane bot this Turnus challance wald Enee

3. To demand as one's right; to lay claim to.(a) 14.. Acts I. 22/2.
Quhasa it [sc. land] chalangys eftir the xii moneth and a day [etc.] 1428 Liber Aberbr. 58.
Neuir abbot of Abirbrothoc to chalange na clam … ostillary within the said tenement 1461 Liber Plusc. 336.
I Henry of Loncastir chalangis this realme … , and the crown with al the pertinentis 1616 Highland P. III. 303.
He may justlie chalandge the recompance of his seruice(b) 14.. Acts I. 38/2.
The thyng that is challangyt salbe geyffin to the challangear undyr sykkyr borch 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 211.
Quhilk hors wes acclamyt & challangeit be Thomas Boswell 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Waife.
It is leasum to the awner of the beast to repeate & challenge the samin within ȝeir and daie 1652 Red Bk. Grandtully II. 147.
They who brocht me ȝour letter chellenges my promeis(c) c1515 Asl. MS. I. 178/18.
All noble man suld wele clame & challance this lady

b. absol. To make a claim. 1448 Acts I. 351/2.
The wardane sal ger the presoner be brocht to the wardane court and thair the pertiis sal chalange, and he that is fundin first arestar sal chalange first 1448 Stirlings of Keir 221.
Sua that I na my ayris … ma ask or challans ony manere of wyse 1495 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 596.
We na nayne of ws … sal … follow, clame, nor challance forthir than this assithment … that is maid 1519 Acta Conc. MS. XXXII. 88.
He may haif full regres tharto quhen evir he ples to call or challandis tharfor

4. To make question or trouble concerning. 1668 Forbes Baron Ct. 276.
Wnder the failȝie of ten poundes money ewry tym the froster sall challang any of thair beast in the said wood