Obs. rare. [a. ON. tein-n twig, rod: cf. gull-, járn-teinn rod of gold, of iron, MSw. tēn ‘smal stång (af metall),’ Söderwall; Sw. ten. Cognate with OE. tán, MDu. teen twig.] A slender rod of metal.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 672. He took out of his owene sleeue A teyne of siluer Which þat was nat but an Ounce of weighte. Ibid., 676. He shoope his Ingot in lengthe and eek in breede Of this teyne. Ibid., 777. This preest took vp this siluer teyne anon And thanne seyde the Chanon let vs gon With thise thre teynes whiche þat we han wroght To som Goldsmyth and wite if they been ouht.
