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: 1399-1400, 1475-1621
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Compas, n. Also: compas(s)e, conpas, cumpas, -pais. [ME. compas (c 1300), -pase, -pass(e, cumpas, etc., OF. compas.]
1. A round or ring; a circle or circuit. In compas, in circuit, round about.a1400 Legends of the Saints xiii. 67.
[Saint] Luk in schape of a calfe Of the compas in the richt halfe c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace viii. 227.
All Wallace ost in till a cumpais baid a1500 Henr. Fab. 2041.
With that he kest ane compas far about 1513 Doug. iv. ix. 18.
Quhair … Atlas On schuldyr rollys the round speir in cumpas 1513 Ib. xii. xii. 121.
Troianys stude … inveroun In maner of a compas or a crovn 1533 Boece vii. vii. 234 b.
Thai stude clois togidder in rowtis … quhen on athir party they war fechting in cumpas c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1739.
This towre, in compas round aboute, Wer mylis ten, withouttin doute 1574 Acts III. 87/1.
Ane het irne of the compasse of ane inche about 1570 Leslie 215.
Ane uther company quhilk wer send to fetche a compas behind the back of ane hill 1590 Criminal Trials I. ii. 207.
Ye … maid ane compas in the eird, and ane hoill in the middis thairof 1596 Dalr. I. 5/5.
The circuit or compas about [is] xx hundir thousand pace 1596 Ib. 26/13.
In compase it conteines fyve stages
2. Measure, regular course.a1500 Henr. III. 173/47.
Our gouernance nocht keipis gud rewll nor compas
3. A design or plot.a1500 Golagros and Gawane 596.
The King … this cumpas wele knew, And callit schir Rannald a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 39.
As Judas Crist betrasit with fals compas
4. A mariner's compass.a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i. 98.
A schipman … nothing expert In cunnyng cumpas nor kert a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 460.
Thow … Beschate the stere, the compas, & the glas 1500 Treasurer's Accounts II. 21.
For ane compas of irne bocht to the King 1512 Ib. IV. 302.
Deliverit … to George Patersone, and send in his schip … to Leith, twa kase compase. Item, foure utheris compas 1535 Stewart 2988.
To consider … the eleuatioun of the poll … With compas, calk, and als with quadrent 1538 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 159.
Foure horologis and ane compas 1551 Hamilton Catechism 28.
As … ane skyppar can nocht gyde his schip to ane gud hevin without direction of his compas 1562-3 Winȝet I. 4/2.
Returning thair course fet by the first sett compasse a1568 Satirical Poems xlvi. 52.
Steir be the compas, and keip hir rowt a1605 Montg. Flyt. 461.
To saill sure in a seiffe, but compas or cartattrib. 1621 Edinburgh Testaments LI. 63.
Aucht compas dyalles at xxij s. the pece1549 Acts & Decreets III. 191 b.
Ane cumpas stane [on a ship]
5. A measuring compass. Also attrib.1597 Bk. Rates 4.
Compassis for wrichtis the dosane, xx s.1615 Edinburgh Testaments XLIX. 14.
Ane pair of irne cumpasis 1617 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. II. 233.
Tua glassin vindowis of new compass wark
