Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Gin, Gyn, Gyne, n. [ME. ginne, gynne, gin (c 1220), gyn (c 1200), reduced f. OF. engin Engin(e n.]

1. A device, contrivance, or stratagem. 1375 Barb. xv. 222.
This ilk Maknakill, with a gyn, Wan of thair schippes four or fiff a1400 Leg. S. xx. 228.
Thai with falset and with gyne Had hyme disawit c1420 Wynt. viii. 6764.
Hard was wictoure for to wyn Forowtyn sutellite or gyn ?1438 Alex. ii. 2061.
The ginnes knew he hale … To forȝet dule and begin blis a1500 Henr. Fab. 2794.
Tell me … quhat facultie or gyn Thow hes to bring thé ouer this watter a1500 Seven S. 2313.
Bot euer he studyit to fynd a gyn How he mycht to the lady wyn a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1143.
Me to begyle quha hes mair craft and gin … ? 1535 Stewart 24553.
Rycht weill he wist, without ane wyle or gyn, It wes nocht eith that tyme the feild to wyn 1540 Lynd. Sat. 486 (B).
For I knaw nocht the craft perqueir Of luvis gyn

2. A mechanical device or contrivance, esp. one for securing a door. 1375 Barb. ii. 576.
Quhile he wrocht gynnys, to tak, Troutis, elys, and als menovnys ?1438 Alex. ii. 7301.
Our horses with rapes and ginnis [sall] be Aualyt with battis doun to the se c1475 Wall. xi. 245.
Gret chenys was wrocht in the ȝet with a gyn a1500 Bk. Chess 369.
In the syd it had Ane dure weile closand with a subtile gyn 1535 Stewart 26913.
Of euerie port he knew richt weill the gyn 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3265.
He knokit at the gin [of the door] Ib. 7204.
Of the greittowre … baith key and gin

b. A military engine. 1375 Barb. xvii. 250.
Gynis [E. gynnis] for crakkis had he nane Ib. 690.
The gynour than gert bend in hy The gyne, and swappit out the stane a1400 Leg. S. vii. 466.
With alkyne instrument of were, As gyne, slonge, darte & spere c1420 Wynt. viii. 5023.
The Wardane … browcht a gyne, men called Bowstowre, For till assayle that stalwart towre c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlii. 60.
Lust bur the benner to the wall, And Bissines the grit gyn brocht a1500 Doug. K. Hart 858.
The castell all about He seigit fast with mony sow and gyne [: tyne, syne]