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.
Egiptian, Egyptian, n. Also: Egipcian, Egiptiane, -ien, pl. -ience; Ægiptian. [ME. Egipcion (Wyclif), -cian, -cien, OF. Egiptien.]
1. An (ancient) Egyptian.c1515 Asl. MS. I. 185/7.
The Egipcianis socht suple at the Grekis with quham thai war allyit 1549 Compl. 8/22.
Be this politic ordinance the Egiptiens var inducit tyl adhere to vertu c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4159.
Kyng Pharo, … Quhilk wes the gret kyng of Egyptience 1558-66 Knox II. 447.
Because that the Israellitis did so to the Egiptianis at thair depairtour furth of Egipt
2. A gipsy.(a) 1505 Treas. Acc. III. 136.
To the Egiptianis, be the Kingis command, x Franch crounis 1540 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 98.
Jhonn Auny, Egiptiane, and his complices Ib.
The said Jhone and all otheris the Egiptianes … ar decernit banist this towne 1573 Reg. Privy C. II. 210.
Certane vagabound … people of diverse nationis, falslie namyt Egiptianis 1592 Acts III. 576/2.
For the bettir tryall of … maisterfull beggaris, feinȝeit fuillis, and counterfute Egiptianis 1620 Grant Chart. 216.
Thaes idill and wagabund peopill callit Egiptianeis 1633 Dundonald Par. Rec. 371.
Andro Rid … having maid his repentance for receaving of the Aegiptians into his hous 1661 Soc. Ant. XXII. 255.
Helen Guthrie confest … that shee was ane witch a long tyme since and that shee went abroad with the Egiptians 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV. 659.
Ther hath beine above the number of threscor of Egiptians … frequenting the east part of the shyre of Hadingtone 1700 Misc. Spald. C. III. 189.
The Egiptians toolk possessione of their kill in Jocksleyes(b) 1541 Crim. Trials III. i. 594.
The complaintis gevin in be Jhone Faw, and his brether, and Sebastiane Lowlaw, Egyptianis, ilkane pleinȝeand vpoun vther 1591 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 780.
To take ordour with the colourit and vagabound Egyptians, quhilk defyles the countrey with all maner of abominatioun 1649 Dunferm. Kirk S. 32.
Jon Pirhie … being delatit for resetting Egyptians and sturdie beggars 1700 Misc. Spald. C. III. 179.
These comonlie called Egyptians … are onlie interpret to be idle beggars, … fortunetellers [etc.]
