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.
Quotation dates: 1438-1667
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Kinnisman, n. Also: kinnys-, kinis-, kins(e)-; kyn(n)is-, -ys-, -es-, kyns-; kyinnis-; kennis-. [ME. kinness- (Orm), kines-, kynnes-man, also kenes- (c 1200) and cunnes-man (c 1290), f. cunnes, kinnes, gen. of Kin n. See also Hed(e)-kinnysman.] A kinsman.Also common in collocations with allya and anherdance, q.v. for some further examples.(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1185.
Ȝe [the wolf] … Hes slane full mony kinnismen of myne [sheep] a1538 Abell Chron. 7* a.
Kinnysmen paip suld knaw nayn 1551 Grant Chart. 103.
My cusing and kinnisman … is becummyne man … to me 1568 Lyndesay Pref. 9.
Than must the lairdis brother, kinnisman or surname haif it a1578 Pitsc. II. 25/25.
His tender freind and kinisman 1585 Acts III. 396/1.
The nearest agnettis and kinsmen of naturall foulis 1590 Grant Chart. 177.
The cruell slauchter … of vmquhill Allane Grant, kinisman to the said John Grant 1596 Dalr. I. 132/31.
To stay sum suddan furie steired vpe thair amang his freindis and kinismen 1609 Acts IV. 434/1.
Thair kinsmen, assisteris and partakeris 1667 Grant Chart. 246.
The laird of Grant, his kinsemen, men, tenents and seruandis(b) 1478 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 339.
He suld defend his man and kynnisman a1500 Henr. Fab. 188 (Asl.).
The mous … knewe hir woce, as kynnis men will do c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 37.
Twa Wallace, was his kynnys men full ner 1513 Doug. Direct. 15.
Ȝour kynysman and clerk 1527 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 155.
Be deces of his fadir, modir, and all … freindis and kynnismene or vemen a1538 Abell 70 a.
Defendand thare gilte kynnismen and familiaris a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS ci. 16.
Ane kynnisman skant may trow ane vdir ?1438 Alex. (c 1580) ii. 2856.
Ane chyld that … was kynsman to Gaudefere 1602 Hist. Carnegie 62.
As her kynsman and commed of her Majesty, he aught her … alleageance 1622-6 Bisset II. 86/21.
His guidis … salbe disponed be his narrest kynnismen(c) 1558–9 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I. 169.
Johnne Leslie … kyinnisman, at the leist allia, to the said Williame(d) 1574 Reg. Morton I. 80.
Be ȝour la. assurit kennisman Leonarde of Cuper
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"Kinnisman n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/kinnisman>
