A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Kenspecke, a. [e.m.E. kenspeck (1590) and mod. north. Eng. dial. as kenspeck. -spac(k, etc., also kenspecked. Of uncertain derivation : Per Thorson Anglo-Norse Studies I. (1936) 67 n. suggests a comb. of ken to recognise, identify, and speck a small mark on anything (and cf. mod. north. Eng., esp. Yorks., dial. kensmark n. and kensmarked adj., and Ken-speckled,a.), rather than Norw. kjennespak, Sw. kännespak, quick at recognising (and cf. ON. kennispeki power of recognition).] Easily recognisable or identifiable (from (by) something else). — 1614 Fraserburgh Kirk S. (MS.) Feb. 13 (also J. Cranna Fraserburgh (1914) 189).
Hir husband quha cuist her peitis haid in his peit spaid ane mid irne tapein quilk sa rattit the mid peit that his peitis wer kenspecke by ony in the toun
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"Kenspecke adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/kenspecke>
