A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456, 1507-1508, 1600, 1672
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Irregular(e, -aire, a. and n. [ME. irregulere, -eer (c 1386), irreguler (1395), inreguler (c 1380), OF. irreguler, med. L. irregularis.] 1. adj. a. Disobedient to the rule of the Church as to the conduct of ordained persons and hence disqualified from clerical office. b. Disobeying rule or law generally; lawless, disorderly.1456 Hay I. 133/34.
Here speris the doctour quhethir … a preste or a clerk … war irregulare or nocht, to defend him be armes? 1456 Ib. 134/26.
In this I traist the chaplayne is nocht irregulare a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 36.
Ignorant elf, aip, owll irregular [M. -are] 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 24.
The promise … apperteines na wayes to sic extraordinaire and irregulaire personnes
2. n. A disobedient or disqualified ecclesiastic.1456 Hay I. 134/5.
Quha wald tak the lyf fra clerk … , thai may be law defend thame be armes and nocht be irregularis 1456 Ib. 143/9.
Bot thai may nocht say Sla, sla, for than war thai irregularis 1672 Justiciary Rec. II. 89.
By the Canon Law it is most express that ministers who … should not be entangled with any such imployments, are … exeemed from all such … orders, and if they execute them they are irregulars
