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.
Fragill, a. Also: fragyll, -il, -ile, -ell, fregill. [e.m.E. fragyll (1513), F. fragile, L. fragilis.] Morally or physically weak or frail.(1) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 7/16.
God almychti … knawis our fragill nature c1552 Lynd. Mon. 447.
Adam wes cause … That we bene fragyll synnaris all Ib. 2547.
Christis floke … Conuertit fragyll faltouris 1567 G. Ball. 13.
The warld sa fals, the fragill flesche 1566 St. A. Kirk S. 273.
Ane woman fregill and facill of natur(2) 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xi.
This fragill life Ib. II. 482.
Thair empire is caduke and fragill c1568 Lauder Minor P. ii. 3.
This warld is … Fals and fragell as the glas a1578 Pitsc. I. 60/1.
The fragill felicietie of this warld Ib. 144/26.
The … adwersatie of this fragell warld(3) 1533 Boece II. vii. 70.
Sic persouns as be fragill kynde aud lak of age was febill 1591-2 Rob Stene 22.
As veschell fragill and unstable, Toist heir and thair
