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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Infamous, adj. Also: (infamious). [ME. (c 1380), med. L. infāmōsus.] Of evil fame or repute; noted for, or implying, infamy; legally disqualified in consequence of previous conviction of perjury, corruption, or other crimes; legally inadmissible or invalid; libellous, defamatory. Chiefly of persons.(1) 1467 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 403.
Quhasa euir brakis in ony of thir condicionis sall be haldyn infamous and maynsworne 1533 Boece vi. i. 186.
His folkis … reput him ane myscheant and infamous man, dolf of curage 1551 Acts (1597) c. 19.
Infamous persons, never able to bruik office [etc.] 1614 Misc. Spald. C. V. 218.
The barlamen sall … sicht the persones that ar infamous, to wit, that hes not kell and peitis sufficient [and take those of others] 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 49.
[Her] confessing hir awin infamie can nocht be credeitit for the depositioun of ane infamous persone confessing the giltines of ane infamous cryme is null of the law 1662 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 25.
Dilation of dying and penitent witches is of no force because by the sentence they were infamous 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 110.
Intestabilis ... signiffieth a man infamous for infidelity, perjury, etc., in so far that they, by law, could neither be admitted to be a witnes [etc.] (2) 1596 Reg. Privy C. V. 313.
The making, writing, and geving oute of the said infamous letter 1620 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 180.
The summonds … a verie infamous and wrangous narrative 1672 Moray Synod 153.
John Gordon ... produced a testimonie of his being maried ... but the same is supposed to be infamous by reason it is without dait of the day and place 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. i. iii. § 4.
The standing at the church-door, with an infamous mitre or paper hat, for a relapse(3) 1632 Ritchie Churches S. Baldred 233.
Ane foule lye, yea, infamious libell, maid against his wyff1668 Craven Ch. in Orkney 31 (see Libel(l n. 3).