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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Engine, Engyn(e, n. [ME. engine, -yn(e, engin (a 1300), OF. engin. Cf. Ingine n.]

1. Mind, mental ability, natural capacity or talent. c1420 Wynt. v. 268.
He wes … sle and dowtus off engyne 1456 Hay II. 150/31.
The philosophour jugit him to be subtile of engyne c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 31.
The Jow was of a grit engyne 1513 Doug. v. Prol. 28.
The hie wysdome and maist profound engyne Of … Virgile 1533 Boece vii. xii. 245.
Eftir my sympill engyne I follow the historie extractit fra oure ancient croniclis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
Praying the reidar to apardoun the febilnes of my waik spreit and engyne 1609 Gardyne Garden 57.
Giue quick engines … Should purchase praise 1641 Misc. Maitl. C. II. 28.
The childrene of poore men (being very capable of learning and of good engynes) a1670 Scot Staggering State 85.
His government not as yet kything the dulness and sottishness of his engine

2. Skill, ingenuity, contrivance. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2399.
Thare told thai him … how besely He kest engyne Pirrus to slo ?1438 Alex. ii. 2338.
In Venus chalmer, that with gold fyne Was carued with craft and with engyne 1456 Hay I. 164/6.
With all maner of suteltee and engyne … that my wit can devis 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 423.
Than all his cuyr and crafty engyne gais quyte 1528 Acts II. 325/1.
Lauborand & persuadand be his lettres and with his engyne to invaid our souerane lordis persoune 1611-57 Mure Dido iii. 46.
I an way have found by rare engine

b. A device, design, or plan. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 518.
Inne the which maid he sere stekynges Ryght craftely with wyse engynes ?1438 Alex. ii. 3704.
The listis of gold war … Subtyle wrocht with ane engyne 1639 Baillie I. 118.
His engynes for this purpose, by the skill of his party, was turned back upon him 166. Carstaires Lett. 173.
All the engynes of hell have been made use of to debosh the consciences of people 1662 Cromarty Corr. I. 8.
It was … the engyn of the first troublers of our peace to reproche the King's evell counsellors

3. A mechanical device for use in war. 1375 Barb. xvii. 245 (E).
He gert engynys and cranys ma c1420 Wynt. viii. 4744.
The wardane gert his wrychtis syne Set up rycht stowtly his engyne Ib. 4859. ?1438 Alex. ii. 487.
He set his battreis to our wallis And vtheris engynis that thair-to fallis a1500 Lanc. 729.
O castell to assay With many engyne and diuers wais sere 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 14.
Quhat is it? ane offerand of sum halynes, Or sum engyne of batale? Ib. vii. xi. 111.
To schut or cast … With leyd pellokis from engynys or staf slyng

4. A complex structure. 1513 Doug. vi. xii. 8.
In euery part the hie wysdome dyvyne Diffundit movys this warldis hail engyne

5. Trial, torment. a1400 Leg. S. L. 622.
He thocht weile … To put hir to sa hard engyne, That scho suld leif hir frawart will