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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.

Cunning, Conning, n. Also: cunnyng, cwnning, -yng, cuning, kuning; connyng. [ME. cunnyng, connynge (1340), f. cunne (OE. cunnan) Cun v.]

1. Knowledge, learning, skill.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxvii. 9.
I wald fayne, & I had cunnyng, set my mayne Sume thing to say [etc.] 14.. Acts I. 336/2.
The tailȝeouris … mak our mekil refus … of mennis claith … for faut of cunnyng 1441 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 7.
Twa men of gud cunnyng and knawlege [to be] masteres of the commoune werk a1500 Henr. Fab. 128.
This gentill iasp … Betakinnis perfite prudence and cunning Ib. 148.
Quha is enemie to science and cunning Bot Ignorance? c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 26.
In Scotland than, the narrest way He come, his cunnyng till assay Ib. lxv. 2.
To speik of science, craft, or sapience, Off vertew morall, cwnnyng, or doctrine 1513 Doug. iii. iii. 100.
Palynurus … For al his cunnyng of schipman craft and cart Amyd the sey forȝet the richt way 15.. Clar. i. 549.
I in leichcraft have sum skeill and kuning 1560 Rolland Seven S. 864.
Thair scoller had sa perfite ingine Of cleir cunning 1573 Sat. P. xlii. 999.
My self to wryte I held it best, Thocht of all cunning I be quytt 1596 Dalr. II. 125/2.
This Abbot … persuadet the king of his gret cunning in al thing natural(b) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1018 (B).
‘His connyng’, quod the mere, ‘was wirth sum cost’ a1500 Doug. K. Hart 118.
Servit this quene … with mony vtheris madinis … Conning, Kyndnes [etc.]

b. Efter (or at) thair (etc.) cunning, according to their best knowledge.(a) c 1400 Wemyss Chart. 37.
Schir Williame of Dalyhel … and Williame of Fentoun, sworn to delyuer and ordane … for bath the partis eftir thair knawlage and cunnyng 1415 Lennox Mun. 61.
I sal be lele and trew til my said lord in vorde, cunseil and deid; … eftir my cunnyng 14.. Acts I. 379/2.
Ilke soytour in court is … bundyn … swthfast dome to gyff and lawchfull at his cunnyng 1472 Bamff Chart. 27.
We … [being] oblist to gif our decret … eftir owr cunnyng and knawlage 1545 Reg. Morton II. 295.
The saidis partiis sal caus the iugeis … to pronunce … efter thair cunnyng … and knawlege in amicable wise(b) 1425 Liber Melros 545.
The qwylke sayd personis swor … that thai suld lely … make perambulacion at thair connyng and knawlage 1448 Acts I. 350/2.
That thai leley and trewly efter thair connyng and knawlege suld … put in wryt the statutis … of merchis 1490 Acta Conc. 133/2.
Jugis arbitouris … to deliuer thairintill efter thair connyng, conscience, and knawlege

2. Cleverness, cunning. a1500 Henr. Fab. 462.
Ȝe ar ȝour fatheris sone and air upricht; Bot of his cunning ȝit ȝe want ane slicht Ib. 2522.
Weill he kennit the cunning of the doig c1600 Montg. Suppl. 220/14.
Bot onlie of this monstwre luif we dout; Quhais craftie cowrs no cwning can find out

3. Tasting or inspection (of ale). 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 50.
For the rabuttyng of Gilbert Gollan officiar for vsing of his office in cunning