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.
Quotation dates: 1533-1596
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Clas(se, Clase, n. Also: classy. [OF. classe, L. classis. App. not in Eng. use before 1656.]
1. One of the early divisions of the Roman people. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 93/2.
How King Seruius … dividit his pepill in sindri classis and centuris 1533 Ib. 8.
The first clas 1533 Ib. 28.
The thrid classe 1533 Ib. II. 270.
How King Seruius … dividit his peple in sindry classyis and centuris 1533 Ib. I. 94/6.
2. A class in a University. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 8.
The nombre of the classis at the leist sex. The lawast clas is for thayme that suld declin the namis [etc.] 1563-1570 Ib.
Thay sal bring to the classe paper and ink 1589 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 7.
In cais the said Mr Philip returne to his clase [in the college] agane
3. A fleet. 1596 Dalr. I. 66/1.
The Romane classe … sailed abont al Britannie 1596 Ib. 305/20.
Machabie persueng the victorie … gaue the Danes classe a chais
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"Clas n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/classe>
