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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Famous, a. Also: famows, -ouse, famus. [ME. famous (Chaucer), famows, famus, AF. famous, L. fāmōsus. Cf. Famose a.]

1. Celebrated, renowned. Of persons, places, etc.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii. 456.
The Archebyschape off Yhork … , A famows and a wertuows man Ib. 1737.
Byschapys, erlys, and barownys, And mony famows gret persownys c1475 Wall. i. 17.
We reide of ane rycht famous of renowne c1515 Asl. MS. I. 185/29.
We ar cummyn of the mast famous & maist worschipfull nacioun that evire was in erd 1513 Doug. x. iv. 95.
Manthus the lady cleir, That was baith nymphe and famus prophetes c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2736.
As wryttis famous Diodore(2) c1420 Wynt. iii. 902.
Agrigent wes a regyowne Famows and off gud renowne Ib. vi. 227.
Athenys … A famows cyte quhill of Grece a1500 Henr. Orph. 30.
The mountane of Elicone, The most famouse of all Arabia c1515 Asl. MS. I. 162/10.
Thar is mony swelchis of the see, of the quhilkis twa ar mast famous that is callit Scilla & Caribd 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 99.
Edinburgh, the nobill famous toun c1552 Id. Mon. 1290.
Four famous fludis of Paradyce Ran throw the erth(3) c1420 Wynt. viii. 705.
Hys name … That wes famows … Amang his kyn 1513 Doug. i. vii. 67.
The famus batellis, wlgat throu the warld … Of Kyng Pryam a1585 Maitl. Q. lxxxv. ii.
For famous is your fleing fame

2. Of good repute, reputable. Freq. in famous witness(is).(1) 1467 Acta Aud. 7/2.
That the said Elenoire and James bring certificacion and knawlage that the notare is famouse and lele, that made the instrument 1484 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 50.
That nane of the commoun rentis be set bot till famous men, inhabitantis of this toun and of substance c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 307.
He is our famous to be fals, that fair wourthy prelot Id. xxiii. 18.
With famows folkis hald thy cumpany 1550 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 150.
Assissis of honest and famous men duelland within the said burgh c1550 Rolland C. Venus iv. 283.
Not for to say Venus is velanous: … but Vesta is mair famous 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Schireff.
Schireff-Clerkes suld be honest famous men 1637 Kirkcaldy Presb. 113.
He … says that she is not to be credited, in respect she is not famous and is unconstant(2) 1543 Crim. Trials I. 328.
Be the depositionis of diuerse famouse witnessis 1556 Inverness B. Rec. I. 1.
Apon … probation of diuerse famows witnessis exemit in jugment 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 427.
And for probatioun of the contraventioun, that certane famous witnessis be producit aganis thame 1604 Lanark B. Rec. 116.
It is fund … efter tryell and depositioun of famous witnes, that Jhon Broun hes contravenit the toun actis 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 4.
William Cuik, convict, be the depositiones of sindry famous witnesses 1672 Forbes Baron Ct. 294.
Quhairas he did prow by famous vitnes … that they saw [etc.]

3. Defamatory, libellous. 1543 Balfour Pract. 537.
That na maner of man mak, write, or imprent ony billis, writingis or balladis, famous or sclanderous to ony persoun,., under the pane of death