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 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Prence, Prens(e, n. [Sc. var. of Prince n.] A prince, in various applications. = Prince n.

1. A king, sovereign. = Prince n. 1.(1) 1513 Doug. v vi 126 (Sm.).
Than leuch that riall prence on hym to goif 1528 Lynd. Dreme 192. 1528 Douglas Corr. 131.
His derrest uncle, that suld have cure and reule of his nepho abouf al prencis and utheris 1545 Ib. 154.
As sal be knawing to alle Crissin prensis 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 6.
Quhov mony prencis, conquerouris, and kingis Ib. 344. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 539 heading.
The deprecatiovn of the maker for all Catholyke kyngis and prencis Ib. 540. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2759.
For my father he is ane puissant prence Of diuers realmes Ib. 7427. a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxxiv 38.
To compterfit grit prencis [: expensis] c 1571 Facs. Nat. MSS. III lxii.
Nor shall ioyne thayre forces with any forreyne prence a1578 Pitsc. I 95/19.
They sould never obey nor ken him againe as ane king or prence Ib. 224/19.
The king … beand ane ȝoung prence sittand wpoun the sait royall a1585 Maitl. Q. xciv 2. 13.
Off prences loued c1590 Fowler II 102/3.
Borne … within the prencis dominioun Ib. 151/14.
Considdering that this empreour is a prence maist secreit Ib. 108/32, etc. 1604-31 Craig i 25.
You are a father and a famous prence 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 1974. Id. Kings 5, 10.(2) a1568 Bann. MS. 88 b/56.
Quhilk I thé pray present vnto thy prence [: indigens] c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 81.
Tha that dois, for pleasure of thair prence [: magnificence] Refuse Gods wourd a1585 Maitl. Q. xciv 3. 10. 1567 Sempill Sat. P. viii 8.
Gif thai be tha thow callis thi prence c1590 Fowler I 17/8.
The great glorye … his peerles prence procwred him Ib. II 89/29. 1591 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 161.
That he to quhome belonged these sarks … suld be beheded by his prence(3) a1578 Pitsc. I 36/19.
Gif thow hes ony loue … to the realme or prence 1619 Garden Elphinstoun 660.
The patron of all policie And pleasure of the prence(4) 1565 Misc. Maitl. C. III 188.
To ane noble and mychty prence Henry Kyng of Scotland husband to our souerane lady(5) proverb c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv 5.
And thocht of blude thow war ane prencis peir

b. To stand or be (gud, etc.) prence to (persons), to behave towards (them) as befits their prince or sovereign: cf. Princes(s n. 1 b. 1545 Douglas Corr. 154.
The king standing gud and grasius prense to wse and our freindes 1596–1600 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II 437.
As he sould be a gude justicier and a meak prence unto them

2. A ruler of a lesser state than a kingdom. = Prince n. 2. a1578 Pitsc. I 59/6.
Thair come ane prence of Ramistoun witht wtheris … knychtis and squyeris

3. The heir to the Scottish throne. = Prince n. 3. 1490 Treas. Acc. I 134.
Be a precep of the kingis, that he lent to the king quhen he wes prence, j^c li. 1507 Lanark B. Rec. 18.
For ryngan of the belis that nycht the prens was borne 1603 Montgomery Mem. 248.
Gifin to the ischewer of the prences present, v s.

4. A great noble, more generally. = Prince n. 5 b. 1549 Balcarres P. 308.
Madame ȝour gracis broder baith Monser de Omalle and Monser Cardinell are noble kynd prenses

5. a. Applied to Christ. = Prince n. 6 a. b. Prence of hell. = Prince n. 6 b.a. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3925.
Thay tuke one dart, And peirst that prence outthrouch the hart c1590 Fowler I 206/5.
Eternal lord, God of immortal glore … soverene prenceb. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. liii 8.
Tak thy progeny frome Pluto prence of hell