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.
Quotation dates: 1420-1460, 1538-1655
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Frenche, Frensche, a. and n. Also: Frensh(e, Frensch, French, Freinch, Frinche, Frynshe; Frenc(e, Frens, Freince. [ME. frensh(e, frensche, frenche, OE. frencisc. Cf. Franche a.]
1. Belonging to, brought from France; of French origin, etc. In various contexts.(1) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 229.
Translatit … out of the Frenche leid 1559 Reg. Privy S. MS. XXX. 5 b.
To reid the frenche toung 1635 Aberd. B. Rec. III. 80.
Licience … to teach ane Frensche schoole 1655 Fam. Innes 179.
I received a Freinch letter(2) c1420 Wynt. viii. 6587 (E2).
Ane fair poinȝe Betuix Frenche and Inglismen 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 90.
Ane coit to aue Frenche page a1578 Pitsc. II. 164/21.
The Frinche captane 1592–3 Misc. Spald. C. V. 117.
To ane Frenche brodinster(3) 1542 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 144.
xl elnis Frenche blak 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii. 342.
Frenche claith and silks 1590 Edinburgh Testaments XXI. 182.
His eldest frenche blak cloik 1596 Montgomery Mem. 236.
Sevin singill Frinsche scheittis 1599 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 202.
Certane Frenshe blak poyndit from her 1629 Dumfries Test. I a. 215.
Ane blak cloak of frynshe claithe(4) 1538–9 Master of Works Accounts VI. 24 b.
Verollis … to the gret & frensch quhelis 1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 205.
Ane sadill of the Frenche fassoun 1545 Douglas Corr. 153.
Thair is cummit in 2 Frenche schippis 1555–6 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 321.
Twa pund Frenche glew 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 3667.
Ane ducat or … ane Frenche croun 1591 Thanes of Cawdor 206.
Ane point Frence wyne 1596 Fraser P. 228.
Ane Frenche bed 1627 Edinburgh Testaments LIV. 42 b.
Ten doson [pund] of frensche wald
2. absol. The French (people or persons). Also in pl. 1558-66 Knox II. 57.
The Frenche … began to distroy quhat thay could a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xvi. 64.
Scottis and Frenche now leif in vnitie 1596 Dalr. I. 187/4.
He was amrel of ane nauie contrare the Frenches and Saxounis
3. n. The French language. 1574 Treasurer's Accounts MS. 348.
1 dict[i]onar in Latene & Frence a1578 Pitsc. I. 233/21.
Dyuerse langagis, that is to say, Latine, Frinche, … Inglische and Earische a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxvi (title).
Ane elagie translatit out of Frenche in English meter
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"Frenche adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/frenche>
