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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
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Pepil(l, -le, n. Also: -il(l)e, -yll(e, -ell, -oll, -ole, -ule; peip-, peapill, -le; peipoull; peeple; piepill; pipell, -ill, -le. [ME. (13th c.) and e.m.E. peple, -ill (a 1450), -ull (c 1400): cf. Pupil(l n., Peopill n.] People, in the usual senses and applications.

1. A community of persons; a tribe, nation or race. a. sing. b. sing. construed as plur. c. plur. d. plur. without inflexion.Except as in 1 c, without inflexion, used variously with sing. or plur. determiner, but chiefly or only construed as a plur.a. (1) a1400 Leg. S. xix. 342.
& of that pepule than vnlele … conuertyt was that day Aucht thousand men to Cristis lay 1490 Irland Mir. I. 9/12.
In all pepile, realme, and nacioune 1513 Doug. vi. xv. 14.
To rewle the pepil vnder thyne empyre 1531 Bell. Boece I. 22.
Gif the Scottis … durst fecht aganis his pepill [sc. the Romans] full of glore and chevalry Ib. II. 116.
Not only … of Scottis bot of all othir pepill 1533 Boece i. viii. 54.
Cornelius Tacitus gevis this cruell beistlik pepill Ordindes to name Ib. vii. ii. 223 b.
For the finale exterminacioun baith of the realm and pepill a1538 Abell 84 a.
He wes legait in Norwage & that wild pepill conuertit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4163.
God of Kyng Pharo maid one instrument … His awin peculier peple to torment a1570-86 Maitl. F. clxxvii. 54.
The Saxonis … ȝit posseidis that peipillis propirtie 1596 Dalr. II. 377/21.
Our peple … and ȝour peple … sal be knut … in ane 1607 Highland P. III. 103.
The causs of the inordinat leving of that pepill(b) 1685 Dunlop P. III. 16.
Piepill(c) 1685 Dunlop P. III. 17.
The mony is so ryaf among this pipell that [etc.](2) 1513 Doug. i. v. 76.
Vnder the pepill Hectoriane Ib. vii. xii. 5.
Clausus … Fra quham the clan and pepill Claudyane Is cummyn Ib. xii. i. 1. 1533 Bell. Livy II. 68/4.
To remove all … dishonoure that mycht be imput to Romane pepill 1533 Boece ix. i. 286 b.
The Britan pepill … consulting how the instant weris contrare Saxouns suid be convoyit(3) c1420 Wynt. iii. 71.
Off Israell than the pepyll alle He gert … befor hym calle Ib. vii. 1407.
The kyng Henry … in hys lettyrs sayd he thane That the pepill off Ireland [etc.] 1456 Hay I. 47/19. Ib. 113/2.
The peple of Tharent a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 413 (Asl.). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 164/13.
Nocht anerlie … the faderis bot all the pepill of Rome 1533 Boece i. ix. 55 b.
Baith the pepill and kinrik of Pichtis c 1535 Nisbet I. 2.
Quhen Dauid had ourecum grete Goliath thar come … confortable new tydingis amang the pepile of the Jewis(4) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 461.
Thu art digne callit to be Now haly folk and pepill chosyn 1513 Doug. i. v. 92.
Iuno … Sal … Fostir the Romanys … And Latyne pepill kepe bath in payce and weir Ib. xii. i. 38.
Lat Latyn pepill syttyng by to se Quhou … I sall revenge [etc.] 1533 Boece i. viii. 52 b.
The Moravis, pepill of Germany 1533 Bell. Livy I. 49/25.
Thai thocht nathing mare vnlesum than to troubil sa haly & religious pepill Ib. 10/14. 1549 Compl. 101/2.
Ve think it bettir … to resaif them as vencust pepil(5) 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 349.
Quhilis a realme is translatit fra a pepil [etc.] 1513 Doug. i. i. 34.
Of Troiane blude a pepill suld discend Wailliant in weir Ib. 83.
Bot I … With a pepill sa feill ȝheris weir sall lede Ib. v. xii. 117. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 41.
Knawing thaim bot ane hethin pepill Id. Livy II. 202/4. 1533 Boece i. v. 41 b. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 7/12.
Setting vp ane peple heidles left of God 1596–7 Melvill 391.
A lawles and justiceles peiple 1628 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 293.
Ane puir distressit peapill not abill in the meanest measour to contest with yoweb. c1475 Wall. i. 267.
Unsouerable are thir pepille of Ingland 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 98.
How unwilling our pepill are to ressave a strangear unacquanted with thair … customisc. a1500 Lanc. 1342.
Of realmys and of peplis sere 1513 Doug. iv. iii. 42.
Thai pepillis … Togiddir … joyn in lyge or band Ib. vii. v. 82. Ib. xi. viii. 106.
In our helpyng of Italianys Citeis and pepillys habundis c1515 Asl. MS. I. 158/11.
lij diuers pepillis 1596 Dalr. I. 76/13.
With gret wisdome … he gouerned baith the pepiesd. 1456 Hay I. 200/32.
De jure gentium that is for to say of the law of the peple 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1670.
Betwene thir pepill rais ane langsum weir Id. Æn. iii. vi. 198.
The maneris of al pepill in Italy [L. Italiae populos] c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 322.
The pepill of Scottis and Pichtis huntit in the merchis of thair … cuntreis 1531 Bell. Boece I. xxii.
This ile … is inhabit allanerlie be two peple, Inglismen and Scottis Ib. lxii.
Becaus the crown of Ingland hes bene josit with sindry pepill Ib. 22. Id. Livy I. 14/27.
That baith the pepill suld incres togiddir vnder ane mynd Ib. 14/30.
Thir two pepill 1533 Boece ix. xix. 337 b.
That the pepill inhabitant the ile of Albioun suld be at concorde Ib. iii. xiii. iii. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3728.
To mak thrall Undantit peple vitious 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6.
Rome … All pepill maid to it obedience 1567 G. Ball. 85.
The kingis and the peple … Resistis thé 1592 Warrender P. (S.H.S.) II. 173.
Sing prayse all peple on the earthe to our hevinlie father

2. The persons in a restricted group, company, community or nation; those present on a particular occasion or in a particular place.(a) 1389 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 18.
In the tyme of the hie mess … before the pepill offer it [sc. a candle] till oure Lady c1400 Troy-bk. i. 108.
We come neuir … her … Ne to do wrang … Ne yhit to do the peple offence Ib. ii. 152. Ib. 1902. c1420 Wynt. vi. 1502.
Befor hym than gert he [Gregory VI] call The cardynalys and the pepill all 1454 Liber Coll. Glasg. 177.
De profundis tyll be said in presens of the pepyll a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1093.
How may I succour thé … Before this pepill in plane a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 113 (Ch.). c1475 Wall. ii. 291. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 85/12.
Eftir the transgressioune of Adam … the pepile fell in gret ydolatrie 1494 Loutfut MS. b.
The said seriangis … sall … defend … the way & pres of the pepill a1500 Bk. Chess 109. 1533 Boece ii. iii. 62. Ib. iii. xxi. 123 b. 1535 Stewart 29309.
The pepill all … baith riche and puir Quhat euir he said tha tuke bot litill cuir Ib. 29325.
[To] caus tha pepill of nature sa nyce To trow in Christ 1545 Douglas Corr. 155.
The hole pepille belevis that [etc.] 1549 Compl. 42/10.
The mouyng of the pepil vitht in ane schip stoppis hyr of hyr faird Ib. 167/33.
Quhen the pepil gadris togiddir in ane grit conuentione c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 98. 1551 Hamilton Cat. 69. 15.. Clar. iv. 2391.
Full joyfull was the pepell auld and ȝeing 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7318.
In face of kirk and in the pepillis sicht 1561 Inverness Rec. I. 58.
That he cum befor the congregatioun of the pepyll at the mercat croce 1562-3 Winȝet I. 43/27.
The … consent of the peple in euery … parochin Ib. 87/13. 1567 G. Ball. 3.
Quhen he passit throw the middis of the thik peple [etc.] 1573 Fam. Rose 263.
The countrie and pepill … wythin your belyiarie 1574 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 30. 1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 27.
For feir of invasioun … upone the peciabill pepill and inhabitantis thairof 1596 Dalr. II. 382/1. 1621 Perth Kirk S. 17 Oct.
Ane greatter tempest … quhilk so affrayit the pepill that [etc.] 1673 Sc. Hist. Rev. XL. 61.
Pepell(b) 15.. Clar. iii. 1784.
Of quhilk was maid ane executioun Upon the scaffold the peipill environ(c) 1596 Dalr. II. 436/13.
Peaple(d) 15.. Clar. v. 2907.
All the piple him met with trumpit sound 1593 Birrell Diary in Dunferm. Ann. 248.
The hail pipell

3. The members of a community or group, in contradistinction to its ruler or superior.As, the subjects of a king, dependants of a man of rank, ‘servants’ of God, etc.(1) 1424 Acts II. 8/2.
The quhilk may ingener discorde betuix the king & his pepill 1456 Hay II. 164/32.
Thou salbe haldyn as … worthy king and … lufit of thy peple and of all otheris c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 2059.
This buk schawis … quhow ane prince suld to his pepill him beire 1490 Irland Mir. I. 16/26.
Hou thi hienes suld haue thé anens God and thi pepil 1513 Doug. ix. iii. 73. 1533 Boece iii. xxi. 124.
Caratake … gaif his cure that his pepill in … gude maneris suld be instructit 1535 Stewart 16587.
In greit haitrent he grew Of his pepill 1560 Rolland Seven S. 58. 1570 Leslie 96. c1590 Fowler II. 139/17.
That there subiects and pepill … suld not have laseur to think vpon rebellion 1596 Dalr. II. 382/10.
Peiple 1627 Bk. Carlaverock II. 95.
Itt wilbe verie requisit that ȝowr lordship do not lippin thair convoy altogither to his pipill(2) 1456 Hay I. 110/22.
Behald … the kingis and princis of the peple how thai hald thame as lordis of the peple c1460 Regim. Princ. 49.
Traist men … To reule … Quhilk may pleis God and pepill mair and min a1500 Henr. III. 164/58 (B).
Bot wald the heidismen … Pvnis the peple for thair transgressioun [etc.] 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 329.
The pepil … aw to the king … fidelite [etc.] 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 106.
For Idomeneus the kyng Was by the pepil expellit 1567 Acts III. 24/1.
That all … princes … heirefter … sall reule the pepill committit to thair charge [etc.](b) 1680-6 Lauder Observes 101.
If princes malverse the peeple may depose them(3) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxviii. 34.
God … That helpis his peple fra cruke and lame 1562-3 Winȝet I. 29/15.
The haill peple of God heirfor of al aiges 1558-66 Knox I. 73.
Devouring woulves … Seikand Christes peple to devoir a1568 Bann. MS. 14 a/8. 1600-1610 Melvill 3.
The warks of God for the … salvation of his peiple within this congregation of Kilrynnie 1666 Carstaires Lett. 161.
Pepoll

b. The laity as distinguished from the clergy, the ‘flock’.(a) 1533 Gau 3/7.
Of the quhilk greit onfaithfulnes and heresie come amangis the pepil Ib. 84/21.
The quhilk is albot manifest leinge and haldis the pepil in errour 1535 Stewart 21520. a1538 Abell 108 a.
Quhen thai ar tua papis in strife chosin … quhat sall the pepill hald c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2519.
Quhy do ȝe nocht the ignorant peple teche 1567 G. Ball. 89.
The peple follow man … Thir prelatis 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 90/13.(b) 1627 Orkney Rentals iii. 76.
The trawill off the minister amongst the pipell

c. The common people, the commons; the mass of the people as distinguished from those of high rank or office.Cf. 4 (2) below. c1420 Ratis R. App. v. 6.
Sum defend the pepyll fra ennemyce 1456 Hay I. 215/21. Ib. II. 33/20.
The king of Fraunce … with the peple, lordis and noblis of Fraunce 1533 Bell. Livy I. 224/8.
The tribunis made the pepill to rage aganis the faderis Ib. 235/26.
The tribunis of pepill 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 109.
He brutis this to draw the [ha]rtis of the pepyll fray yow and to hym a1568 Bann. MS. 78 a/37.
Lernit men suld teche the peple of the best 1577 Crim. Trials I. ii. 77.
Ane … abusare of the pepill c1590 Fowler II. 59/2.
Pepole 1596 Dalr. II. 387/18.
The peiple testifie that the sam opinione vttirlie was not vane

4. Men and women, indefinitely; persons, folk.Freely used with specifying pre- or post-modifiers. With commoun, rude, small, vulgar, etc. pepill, cf. 3 c above. With (4), ? cf. men as indefinite pron., Man n. 8 d.(1) c1400 Troy-bk. . 555.
To mony peple in the cite 1456 Hay I. 102/20.
Law civile may wele be callit lawe of peple or of folk Ib. 284/13.
Quhen ony peple … will mak dule for [etc.] Ib. II. 49/3.
To betakyn nobles … that knycht sulde have abone all othir peple Ib. 67/5.
Knychthede suld be honourit … with all maner of peple c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 2/17.
Indusand peple to the seruice of God Ib. 3/21.
That part of peple … deferris thair pennance to thair eild a1500 Colk. Sow ii. 121.
A cornar … Quhich he plenyssit with peple and polesy c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 332. 1513 Doug. i. viii. 79.
Quhat kynd of pepill duellis heir? quod he 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. 396.
Kepand … commond passage … to all pepill 1531 Bell. Boece I. xviii.
The erd is now mair frequent in pepil than it was [etc.] Ib. xxxiv.
In gret admiratioun of pepill Ib. xli. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 81.
Quhy eschewit scho the townis resort and pepillis eyis? 1596 Dalr. II. 214/27.
And infinit peple in the abbay closse(b) 1436 Coll. Aberd. & B. 394.
For eschewyng of mwrmwr of peipil 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 39.
Mony peipill diet with greit skant(c) 1610 Glasgow Trades House 26.
To the great comfort of all sortis of peapill within this burcht 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 99.
Al sortes of peaple(d) 1665 Lauder Jrnl. 126.
In a prodigious confluence of peeple of al ranks(2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 353 (Asl.).
The commoun pepill mycht stand in to gud stait Quhen [etc.] — 1533 Boece ii. vii. 70.
The novellis to the lauborios pepill … war … lamentabill — 1456 Hay II. 28/27.
All … that settis thame for the distrublaunce of the pore peple 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I. 147.
[He] layd the sayd erd and stane in Sir John Smayllis hand in name of pur pepylle — c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 368 (M).
Helie rais my renowne amang the rude peipill — 1456 Hay I. 27/22.
Rycht sa ar the prelatis … likenyt to the sternis … to geve lycht to the small peple 1533 Bell. Livy II. 161/10.
The tribunys of pepill made inhibitioun to the small pepill to pay the tribute — a1538 Abell 97 (bis) b.
Wulgair pepill said [etc.] 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 749.
Thow knawis the vulgare pepyllis iugement — c1552 Id. Mon. 654.
Amang ws peple of the law estait(3) 1456 Hay I. 65/23.
The quhilkis was wikkit and evill peple and grete werreyouris 1490 Irland Mir. I. 81/3.
We are … callit Cristin pepile eftir him [Christ] c1475 Wall. viii. 572.
Thar market for till stand … for pepill off Ingland 1494 Loutfut MS. 113 a.
All the pepil that ar present 1530 (c 1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II. 36.
The said Dauid … said mes amangis the cleyne pepill 1531 Bell. Boece I. cix.
Leir kingis to hait all peple vitius Ib. 5.
Inhabit with rude pepill Ib. II. 99.
All idill pepil as juglaris [etc.] Ib. 195.
Al pepill that … maneswore thameself Id. Livy II. 187/10.
We bere na armonre aganis … sic pepil that suld be saiffit quhen cieteis ar tane Ib. 23 1/7.
Sic as hirdis and landwart pepill vsis 1549 Compl. 1/10.
Al the langorius desolat & affligit pepil Ib. 22/27. a1550 Lang Rosair 160.
To the perpetuall saluacioun of his eleit pepill 1562-3 Winȝet II. 4/1. a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xvii. 2.
Re iois all pepill of that regioun 1627 Rep. Parishes 16.
Quhair thair is the greittest confluence off pepill duelling twa myllis from the remotest pairt 1641 Boharm Kirk S. 10 Jan.
For subscryving the covenant for the peple that could not subscryve 1677 Stirlings of Keir 513.
Soum busy peipoull heire maks it ther busines to [etc.](4) 1456 Hay II. 99/23.
Understand wele that peple will speke lychtly of lytill evyn