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.
Gulis, Gowlis, n. Also: gullis, gwlis, gules; gowlys, -es, goulis, -es; gueulis, geules, geuelles. [ME. gulles, gowlez, goulez (14th c.), OF. goules, gueules.] The colour red in heraldry.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii. 922.
Berand the scheld of siluir schene Of gwlis with a croice but wene 1456 Hay I. 277/23.
A man has tane to bere in his armes a low of gules in a champ of silver c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 41.
The rosy garth depaynt … With purpoure, azure, gold, and gulis gent 1535 Stewart 6599.
Cled in cot armour … With goldin gullis glitterand as the gleid(b) c1420 Wynt. iv. 321.
The kyng of Lidis bare Off gowlys in to sylver brycht Thre creyhsceandis in his armys dycht c1450-2 Howlat 366.
He bure a lyon as lord of gowlis full gay Ib. 370.
Of pure gold was the ground … Of gowlis sygnet and set c1475 Wall. x. 207.
Thai raissit wp rycht thair The Bruce baner, in gold off gowlis cler a1500 Rauf C. 455.
He bair grauit in gold and gowlis in grene … Ane tyger ticht to ane tre a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 475.
Ferly fayr wes the feild, flekerit and faw With gold and goulis in greyne 1513 Doug. xii. Prol. 108.
Behaldand thame sa mony diuers hew, … Sum greyce, sum gowlys, sum purpour 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 1112.
Hir moste heuinly hewis, Gold, azure, gowles, purpour, and synopeir a1586 Lindsay MS. 56.
Ruby, ane reidly staine, goules it is callit in armes(c) a1586 Lindsay MS. 18 b.
The first colour eftir the mettale is reid, that is callit in armorie, gueulis, and is liknit to the fyre 1594 Fowler II. 192/35.
Taffataes of his Maiesteis collours, golde, and geules 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 86.
A lyone rampant, geuelles
