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: 1499-1593
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Dull, Dul, a. Also: dwll. [ME. dulle, dul (13th c.).] a. Slow to understand or think. b. Slow to hear; deaf. c. Lacking in interest.a. a1500 Bernardus 362.
Qwhen … thi spretis vax dul and blat c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxx. 17.
We ar so beistlie, dull, and ignorant 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 16/3.
My dul rude brane 1549 Ib. 123/6.
I may be comparit to the dul asse 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 5730.
God … sa dul maid his hart, That he culd not him self help be na art 1593 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 395.
Oure dark and dwll senses and wittsb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. xv. 9.
He that dronis ay as ane bee Sowld haif ane heirar dull as stane 1513 Doug. iv. viii. 40.
Quhy doith he reffus my wordis and prayeris To lat entir in his dul ontretabill erisc. a1568 Scott i. 222.
This dull indyte c1590 J. Stewart 142/21.
All my blobit dull indyt
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"Dull adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dull_adj>
