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: 1475-1603, 1665
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Gain(e, Gayn(e, v.1 [ME. gayne, geyne, geȝnen (c 1200), ON. gegna. See also Gane v.1] intr. To be fitting or suitable. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 809.
My selff can swym, … But currours oys, that gaynis nocht for me c1475 Ib. xi. 259.
It gaynd full weill I graithit me to Scotland 15.. Clariodus iii. 828.
Scho gainis weill to be ȝour chalmerer 15.. Ib. iv. 318.
Meliades to dres into hir geir Of thingis sik as gainit for hir to weir 1558-66 Knox II. 75.
Sa mekill as may gayne for keiping of the saidis placeis a1570-86 Balnavis Maitland Folio MS cxxix. 71.
Than gam and gle gaynis not for thé a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxx. 108.
Thay gaine bot kingis for to be 1603 Philotus xxi.
Ane cup of sack … May for ane breckfast gaine 1665 Lauder Journal 93.
It may be demanded whow the same cloaths gained them when they came to be 30 year old
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"Gain v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gaine_v_1>
