a. Chiefly Sc. [UN-1 7 b.] Not winnable; esp. of fortresses: Impregnable.

1

1536.  Bellenden, trans. Boece, Descr. Alb., ix. (1541), B vi b. This crag is callit the Bas; vnwynnabill be ingyne of man.

2

1551.  Ascham, Lett., Wks. 1865, I. II. 256. Many castles stand on the tops of these rocks unwinable.

3

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 289. The place quhilk naturalie was wnwinnable,… was … gyuen ouer on condiciounis.

4

1621.  Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 345. The Castle is impregnable, and she vnwinable, and thus his [= the prisoner’s] misfortune fell.

5

a. 1670.  Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1850), I. 291. The assaillantis fynding the place … vn-wynnable without gryte skaith.

6

  transf.  1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 23. Giwe me … a valkryffe harte,… a stoute and vnwinnable, that na tribulation may mak veirie.

7