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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.

French(e)man, Frensch(e)man, n. Also: Freinche-, Frinche-, Frenceman.. [ME. pl. Frensche men (1387), sing. Frensc mon (c 1205). Cf. Francheman.]

1. A Frenchman. Freq. in pl.(a) 1456 Hay I. 162/5.
The Frenche men in that cas ar nocht behaldin to … mak eschete of thair gudis 1521 Reg. Privy S. I. 488/2.
Ane lettre of Francois Bosses, Frenchman, makand him maister of artilȝery 1539 Treas. Acc VII. 257.
To pay ane Frencheman quhilk was hurt with the schot of ane gun 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 99.
Michael Bre, Frencheman, calsay makar 1573 Sat. P. xxxix. 38.
Syne at the sege of Leith scho … dang the Frenchmen 1596 Dalr. II. 310/10.
Quhen the Frenchmen haue castne doune the walis(b) 1546 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 121.
Certane canves bocht … fra the Frensheman 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 275.
The wache of the Inglis horsmen … , brak upoun the said Frenschemen a1578 Pitsc. I. 68/17.
This … discoird was wtterlie profietabill for the Frensch men(c) a1578 Pitsc. I. 254/27.
Let me and the Frincheman pairt amang ns Ib. II. 171/20.
The Frinchemen wschit out of the toun

2. A partisan of France. 1524 Douglas Corr. 93.
The bischop of Dunkell, … was ever ane gude Frenschman and never treu to Scotlande

3. A French ship. 1548–51 Misc. Spald. C. V. 52.
To pas on ane Frencheman … deliuerit Wat Andersone, 2 s.