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.
Fensabill, -able, Fensibill, -ible, a. Also: fensabil(e, fenseable, fenc(i)able, fenceabill; fencibill, fenc(e)ible. [ME. fensable (c 1325), fensible (1417), but chiefly Sc. before 1590, reduced from Defensabill.]
1. Of men: Able for defence; fit for, and liable to be called upon, for military service.(a) a1500 Rauf C. 327.
Schir Rolland and Oliuer come rydand the way, With thame ane thousand and ma of fensabill men 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 69.
All the fensabill men of Scyrrya Bownys our the wallis Ib. vii. vii. 51.
Addres thy fensabill men in thar array 1513 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 143.
That all nychtbouris of this toun, fensabill personis, … pas in thair best aray bodin for weir till our said souerane lordis army 1531 Bell. Boece II. 47.
The princis of Britane … come haistely to Vortigern, with all fensabil pepill under thair boundis 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 154.
Lettres to proclame wappinschewing, and to noumer the personis fensabill for weris a1578 Pitsc. I. 262/5.
All his lordis, barrouns, and burgessis, all frie halderis and fenceabill men 1672 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 283.
That the fencable men … be in armes at the buriall … of his corps(b) c1575 Balfour Pract. 595.
That he incontinent send his horse hame agane with ane runnand boy, and with ane fensibill man 1589 Reg. Morton I. 159.
To conuocat oure liegis … betuix saxtie and saxtene ȝeiris and utheris fensible personis in weirlyke maner 1636 Grant Chart. 229.
Send out tuelf habill fensibill men of the best sort c1650 Spalding II. 281.
Ilk minister [is] ordanit to give wp to the committee at Abirdene the number of fensibill men … within thair parochin 1666 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 229.
The counsell … ordanes the haill inhabitants fensible persones to muster and conveine in armes in the Links(c) 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 15.
The councell … ordaines that euerie inhabitant being ane fencible persone … keip the said nichtlie watch 1689 Montgomery Mem. II. 343.
To call out all the heretors … and fenceible-men 1696 Lanark B. Rec. 259.
The young fencible men quho wer lyable in the last outreik
2. Of arms or armour: Capable of serving for defence.1471 Acta Aud. 20/2.
[Sixty] personys in fere of were of men of armys, with bowis and vther fensable wapins 1484 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 40.
That all nichtburis … haf thare wauppinis and armis, swerdis, axis, cellattis, and vthir fensable geer, redy besyde thaim in thair buthis and houssis 1522
Ib. 103.
That thai haue besid thame … ane sufficient fensable wapyne, sic as ax, halbert, gedward staf, or siclik 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 154.
The archearis … with speris, axis, and vthir fensabill wapynnys inflictit grevous woundis 1558-66 Knox I. 87.
The soldeouris caist from thame thaire pickis, culveringis, and utheris weaponis fensable
3. Intended or serving for defence or protection.1513 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 87.
That all man … sal pas … to the linx, to devise thar bastailye and trinchis and uthir fensabile wais, for defence of the towne 1533 Boece iv. xvi. 151 b.
To douchty men hard fechting and armys ar honorabill, richtsua to cowartis thai ar fensabill and maist sure refuge 1532 Treas. Acc. VI. 106.
That all men betwix sexty and xvj ȝeris suld be reddy in fensable maner for weir 1593 Reg. Morton I. 185.
That … we … may be … admittit in the maist fensible and warelyke maner to be about his Majestie 1667 Corshill Baron Ct. 76.
Everie tennent … within the Lairdshipe sall vphold ther yaird dyckes fensible throw the wholl yeer
4. Properly enclosed or protected.1665 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 65.
If the toune makit ane commoune vennell to consider how the nighburis sall be made fensible
