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.
Female, Femel(l, n. Also: femaill, femeill, femmel(l. [ME. female (c 1380), femele (c 1315), femelle, OF. femelle, L. fēmella. Cf. Famell n.] A female (esp. a person); a woman.1375 Barb. i. 61.
For thar mycht succed na female, Quhill foundyn mycht be ony male c1420 Wynt. viii. 353.
That the female in ewynlik gre Preferryd to the male suld be 1549 Compl. 141/13.
The mail vitht the femmel committis nocht the verkis of natur, bot in the saison of generatione a1578 Pitsc. I. 62/21.
This James deceissit but ony airis maill … and sa the landis come to this femeill 1604-31 Craig i. 23.
Three mails and femels two you haue 1645 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 126.
To haif the portiouns of the femel (failȝeing of airs maill) to be referrit to my lord himself
