A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1558-1596, 1651-1700+
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Insinuat(t, v. Also: insinowat. P.t. insinuat, p.p. insinuat(e. [e.m.E. -ate infin. (1529), p.p. (rare, 1534), L. insinuāt-, p.p. stem of insinuāre.]
1. tr. To announce publicly, to publish; to intimate, mention. (Cf. later and med. L. insinuāre in similar sense and Insinuatioun n.) 1558 Reg. Cupar A. II. 298.
[He] intymeit, insinuat, notifeit and demonstrat the samyn [infeftment] to the haill tennentis of the saidis landis 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest. 21.
Bot in sic vechtie diseise mair profitable it war to use preseruatiue remeid conforme to the logical cuir befoir insinuat 1651 Hibbert P. no. 14.
I doe heirby humbly jnsinowat the long delayd ... compt of ȝour myll debt 1688 Sinclair Doctrine Sphere 55.
These astronomical days have their beginning in the meridian, as was insinuate before
2. To convey or communicate (a statement or notion) indirectly; to suggest, hint, imply; to allege, affirm.(a) 1562-3 Winȝet I. 59/4.
This kirk quhilk my aduersar insinuatis to be it quhilk he callis papistical 1562-3 Ib. II. 10/19.
As he can nocht cal it a General Counsel, sa he apperis to insinuat that the haly Fatheris aggreit nocht thare amangis thame selfis 1596 Dalr. II. 111/26.
To moue him the promptlier to supplie he insinuats [L. monet] that with him he hes an Inglisman … King Edward the fourtis sone 1596 Ib. 395/14.
Sum wicket persounis clattiris behind backis and insinuatis [L. inculcabant] how contrare thair vtilitie was that jornay 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 311.
Notwithstanding of what may be insinuatted or interpreted … to the contrair … does nowayes bind the petitioners in the caice forsaid(b) 1596 Dalr. II. 103/30.
Farther he insinuat to thame quyetlie a perpetual band 1683 Lauder Observes 110.
The Earle of Mecklesfeild, who insinuat to the King that his brother was more courted … than himselfe(c) 1702 Rothesay Par. Rec. 159.
Although Duncan McAvish had often insinuate to her that she had just grounds soe to doe
b. intr. To give (indirect) intimation or warning. 1596 Dalr. II. 320/25.
How he insinuat of his flicht to his keiperis
c. ? To give intimation or warning to. 1596 Dalr. II. 387/21.
A comete quhilk speciallie did insinuat [L. minas suas intendens] our ile, as all man beleiuet
3. reflex. To insinuate or ingratiate oneself. 1584 Melvill 192.
Debauschit men … was sufferit till insinuat tham selves in the Kings favour
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"Insinuat v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/insinuatt>
