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: 1375-1466, 1577, 1633
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Es(e)ful(l, a. Also: eis-, eas(e)full. [e.m.E. easefull (1577).] Giving ease or comfort. 1375 Barb. v. 70 (E).
Myne auentur her tak will I, Quhethir it be esfull [C. eisfull] or angry a1400 Legends of the Saints xxviii. 89.
Mare esful til hyre war Hyr dede [th]an lyf or welfar c1420 Wynt. vi. 2436.
Welle stuffyd syne he gert thame be Wyth wyttaylle, and wyth othire thyng, That esfull war to thare lykyng c1420 Ib. viii. 2550. c1460 Wisdom of Solomon 614.
Ȝhit he na his sal neuer hafe a profytable na esful day in al thar lyf 1466 Reg. Dunferm. 356.
To mak land stell and dame … in ony place profitable and esfull to the sayde abbot 1577 Reg. Morton I. 86.
We traist the course we haue taken be als honorable and easfull to ȝow as ony cours … can be taken 1633 Misc. Spald. C. I. Pref. 46.
The gray frier kirk … lyand in the hart of the toune, verie commodious and easefull for the whole inhabitantis
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"Esful adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/esefull>
