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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.

Franch(e)man, n. Also: Fraunch-, Franshe-, Frain(s)che-, Frayn(s)che-. [e.m.E. Franchman (1545), usually Frenchman, ME. Frenssheman. Cf. Franche,a. and n. and Du. Franschman, Dan. Fransk-, Sw. Fransman.]

1. A Frenchman.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6739.
The Franche men ware gayly dicht 1456 Hay I. 232/4.
Gif ane inglis barne war takyn prisonare be a Franche man durand the weris c1515 Asl. MS. I. 244/27.
The gret gwn the quhilk a Franche man schot richt wele 1523 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 212.
Quhar[as] … now laitlie thai haue bocht ane pur prys of Ingland taken be Franchemen 1532 Ib. II. 57.
Jhonne Mayser and Bartrahame Foliot, franchemen, calsay makaris 1553 Treas. Acc. X. 206.
Twa Franchemen, fynnares of leid, in Crawfurd Mure, and otherris warkmen wirkand thair be the said Franchemennis dewys a1570-86 Maitl. F. xcviii. 63.
Giff ȝe … Franche men bring in hir quarrell to sustene 1608–9 Misc. Spald. C. V. 83.
Ane Francheman of Caleis(b) 1456 Hay I. 99/7.
Gif ane Allemain fyndis a Fraunchman berand the samyn armes that he beris in felde Ib. 280/22.
The Franch man sais he dois him na wrang 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 105.
To the Franch man that set the wyne treis in Strivelin 1550 Reg. Privy C. I. 104.
To licence the weire schippis … , providing … that tha sall do na hurt … to the Franchmenattrib. 1522 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 99.
Ane Hollanderis bodum, allegit to be ane Franchman price(c) 1469 Acta Aud. 9/2.
Peris Cokate, Franschman 1490 Crim. Trials I. 116.
In Dunde, to the King, to gif the Fransche menne that playit, xx^ti unicornis 1562 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 147.
The heirschep committit vpoun Alexander Weland, lorymer, be the Franschemen c1615 Chron. Kings 124.
The Fransche man … ascheapis(d) 1563 Reg. Cupar A. II. 278.
Dimrigo, Frainche man 1595 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 135.
Pier Poyle and Charles Geill, Fraynchemen, pilleit be Ireland men c1615 Chron. Kings. 93.
That the Frainschmen being in Scotland suld be estemeitt as nateiff to the cuntrie

2. A Gaul. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1234 (W).
This Brynnyus … Werrayit, with the Franche men, The Romanis Ib. 1248.
The Romane slew the Franche man 1513 Doug. viii. xi. 35.
Quhou the Franchmen did the ȝet assaill c1615 Chron. Kings 13.
He insitit the Frainche men first to rebell aganis the Romanis