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.
Quotation dates: 1500-1626
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Devilisch, Divilisch, a. Also: devilishe, -ise, -ege; devillische, -issh, -ysche, devyllische, -ish; develleische, -elische, deulish; dewillysche, -ich(e, -ilsche; divilische, -ish, divillisch, divellisch, -elis(che, diwilishe, -elische. [Late ME. deuylysshe (a 1500), e.m.E. devylishe, dyvelysshe, etc., f. Devil.]
1. Of actions, qualities, etc.: Worthy of or befitting the devil; diabolical, fiendish.(a) 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 216 (dewillich warkis and coniurationis). c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 93 (dewillysche doctrine and idolatrie). 1572 Maitland Folio MS lxxxviii. 4 (dispyis thair dewilliche deming). a1578 Pitsc. II. 60/18 (wordis of dewilsche dispyte).(b) 1561 Q. Kennedy Oratioun 20 (thair deuillische doctrine and doyingis). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 40/4 (deuyllish eloquence of wordis). 1571 Satirical Poems xviii. 52 (thair deuillische deuysis). 1584 Edinburgh Testaments XIV. 162 (to mak ony compt to that develische kirk). 1590 Digest Justic. Proc. M 29 (hir develleische incantationis and witchcraft); 1597 Misc. Spald. C. I. 132 (haitrent, ewill will, and deuilische mynd). 1600 Hamiilton Facile Tr. 63 (the deuilege adultering of the word of God). 1622-6 Bisset I. 64/2 (all the said Makbaithis devillische consaitis).(c) 15.. Clariodus iii. 1507 (be divillisch treasoun). 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 516 (his diwilishe mes). c1590 J. Stewart 217 § 69 (this diwelische dolorus degres). 1597 Elphinstone Chart. 136 (sorcerie or sic diuilische practizes). 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II. 201 (sa hainous and divelis lies). 1614 Melrose P. 175 (thir bluidie tratoures within this diuilisch castle).
2. Resembling, having the nature of, a devil.15.. Clariodus iii. 1989 (that divellisch Sir Thomas the tratour). c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2257 (thare gret deuilische god Dagone). a1568 Bannatyne MS 136 b/28 (for dule of that devillisch deme). 1572 Reg. Privy C. II. 168 (that devillishe and terrible Counsall of Trent). a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxi. 15 (Mar and the divelische Douglassis).
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"Devilisch adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/devilisch>
