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: 1375, 1438, 1499-1513
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Gliffin, v. Also p.t. variants (by misreading): glistnyt,, glystnyt, glisnyt. [f. ME. glif, glyf. p.t. glyfte (c 1330), of obscure origin.] intr. To look quickly, to glance up. — 1375 Barb. vii. 184 (E).
The king … slepyt nocht full encrely Bot gliffnyt [C. gluffnyt] wp oft sodanly ?1438 Alex. ii. 6588.
Quhen Clarus that hard, he glifnit all a1500 Doug. King Hart 382.
The quene is walknit with ane felloun fray, Vp glifnit and beheld scho wes betrayid 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 7.
Affrayit, I glystnyt [Sm. glistnyt] of sleip, and start on feit 1513 Ib. viii. Prol. 165.
As I grunschit at this grome, and glisnyt abowt
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"Gliffin v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gliffin>
