Forms: 1–3 winn, (3 pl. wunnen), 4–5 winne, wynne, wyn(e, 3– win. [OE. win(n) labor, strife, conflict (cf. MG. win), more frequently ʓewinn: see I-WIN sb. The modern senses are from WIN v.1]

1

  I.  † 1. Strife, contention, conflict; tumult, disturbance, agitation. Obs.

2

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen., 259. He … ongan him winn up ahebban wið þone hehstan heofnes wealdend.

3

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 161. Hwile lat te deuel hem … & weccheð among hem flite & win.

4

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 670. He mot gon to al mid gynne Hwan þe horte beoþ on winne.

5

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 598. Ðo ðe tende moneð cam in, So wurð draȝen ðe watres win.

6

c. 1275.  Lay., 9044. Þat heold fiht and win [earlier text iwin].

7

  † 2.  Gain, acquisition, profit; also, advantage, benefit. Obs.

8

c. 1200.  Ormin, 6118. Þe birrþ þin rihhte swinnkess winn Upponn ȝuw alle nittenn.

9

a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 805 (Camb. MS.). Ac floriz nolde for no winne; Leuere him were wiþ his kinne.

10

c. 1440.  Pallad. on Husb., III. 5. Ek newer, gretter wynne Is to the gresse.

11

1495.  Acta Dom. Conc. (1839), 409/1. Þe said tend penny of all wynnis pertenyn to our souerane lord.

12

a. 1500.  Bernard. de cura rei fam., I. 180. Eftyr þi wyne with worschipe, clethyng wer.

13

a. 1500.  Thrie Priests Peblis, 619. Quhan thay ar full of sic wrang win.

14

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xvii. 16. Thir merchantis takis vnlesum win.

15

1535.  Lyndesay, Satyre, 3507. In pryde, invy, in ire, and lecherie, In covetice, or ony extreme win.

16

  † b.  Possessions, riches, wealth. Obs.

17

  For the phr. worldes win(ne see WIN sb.2 2.

18

c. 1205.  Lay., 3099. Ic hem ȝeue al þa winne þe ich æm waldinge ouer. Ibid., 22668. Wif & mine weden and alle mine wunnen.

19

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 7879. Bot oft þe weliest o win Riue-liest þai fal in sin.

20

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., i. 185. To walk here in this worthely wone, In all this welthly wyn.

21

  II.  3. A victory in a game or contest. colloq.

22

1862.  Illustr. Lond. News, 10 May, 492/3. The opposition … gathered strength after this slovenly win.

23

1866.  Daily Tel., 3 Nov. Pineapple … won the first race, it being his eighth win since he was sold.

24

1894.  Astley, Fifty Yrs. Life, II. 78. I was real pleased with the win, for lots of my pals had backed Actea.

25

  4.  A gain; pl. gains, winnings. colloq.

26

1891.  Nat. Gould, Double Event, ii. His gambling wins would have been enough for that.

27

1893.  Kennel Gaz., Aug. Although the Shows might not be affected, their wins would be.

28

1897.  T. R. Williams, Serm. on ‘Just as I am,’ 3. Every mental win on your part is a draw upon universal truth.

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