Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Terne, Terned, adj. [? F. terne, f. soi ternir to become black, lose lustre, tarnish (c1280 in Wartburg). Cf. Dern(e adj.] Black in mood, gloomy,? intransigent. —(a) c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 261.
Thought ȝe be kene, inconstant and cruell of mynd, Thought ȝe as tygris be terne, be tretable in luf And be as turtoris in your talk a1568 Bann. MS 263a/15.
Als terne as tygir of tung vntollerable —(b) 1638 Baillie I 159.
The Moderator, a most grave and wise man, yet naturallie somewhat terned, took me up a little accurtlie