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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.

Corps, Corpis, n. Also: corpse, corpes, corptis. [ME. (c 1325) and OF. corps, respelling after L. corpus of earlier cors Cors n.¹ Also e.m.E. corpes, corpse.]

1. The body of a living person.(a) 1456 Hay I. 118/11.
Gif hardynes … cum of a stark or strenthy corps Ib. 142/30.
Spere, suerd, and knyf, to defend the corps with a1500 Henr. Fab. 716.
Thow sall … forbeir flesche vntill Pasche, To tame this corps 1513 Doug. ix. iv. 94.
Heir is, within this corps of myne, A forcy spreit 1533 Boece i. vii. 49 b.
King Coill chiftane (quhen servandis to keping of his corps awatit nocht) was oppressit and smorit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3358.
All his tender seruituris That of his corps had gretest curis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1438.
His sone betakins the saull of man Quhilk in the corps is ay inclusit 1570 Sat. P. x. 33.
Immortall in heuin his corps dois stay a1605 Montg. Son. xvi. 6.
Sho may my corps, bot not my curage kill 1587-99 Hume ii. 45.
A perfite comelie corps of man, he made of earthly dust(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxix. 9.
My verry corpis for cair wald cleif Ib. xlviii. 94.
This awfull beist … wes … Rycht strong of corpis 15.. Clar. ii. 1118.
He was seimlie of corpis and statur a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxii. 27.
The corpis mycht be relaxit, bot schame suld the confound

2. A dead body; a corpse. (Also with dedfe.)(a) a1500 Henr. Fab. 820.
The carioun vpon his bak he tais, … Syne with the corps vnto ane peitpoit gais a1500 Bk. Chess. 1069.
So this knycht … brynt his corps to bring law in his land 1513 Doug. ii. x. 150.
The corps is sone warpit in sepulture Ib. xi. i. 54.
Lat ws to erd haue The corpsis of our fallowis 1531 Bell. Boece II. 208.
Thir tratouris … fled in Orknay, that the deed corps suld not schaw the slayaris c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4729.
Thay hauld the corps at the kirk style 1567 G. Ball. 194.
Ȝe will … cast the corps in the clay a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxiv. 4.
Lay ane deid corps thame by 1622-6 Bisset II. 180/24.
His … maiesties corps and bodie wes brocht to that rycht ancient … citie of London 1669 Lamont Diary 212.
The funeralls were hastned for feare of arreisting his corps be his creditors(b) 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 335.
Adam immediately causit beir butt the deid corpis to the chalmer of daice 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 282.
The corpes of vmquhile Marie, quene dowriare of Scotland … , wes convoyit … furth of the castell 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII. 144.
Magling and dismembering of his deid corpis 1674 Elgin Rec. I. 319.
That the great bells be onlie rung … about the tyme of the lifting of the corpes

b. Used or construed as a plural. (Cf. Corp n.) 1611 Edinb. Test. XLVI. 329.
Tua small kistis for the corpis of deid persones c1650 Spalding II. 456.
His corpis ar takin wp, wynd and put in ane clois kist 1649 Lamont Diary 3.
His corps afterwarde werre brought down … to Hamiltone, where they werre interred 1667 Highland P. II. 54.
The corpes of the appearand of Tulloch and the rest of the companie they buried in Lochcarron

3. One of the heavenly bodies. 1456 Hay I. 75/35.
All thir erdly thingis … ar governyt and sterit be the hevin and the corps celestialis