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: 1438, 1494-1515, 1590
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Leopard, n. Also: leopart, lyoppart, lieppart. [ME. leopard (14th c.), -erde, -art, luperd (14th c.), lepard (13th c.), leupar (13th c.), e.m.E. leopard, OF. leopard, leupard etc., late L. leopardus. Cf. Libbard.]
1. A leopard. ?1438 Alex. ii. 11015.
Leopardis, tygris and lyonis a1500 Henr. Fab. 865.
The [B. Thre] leopardis come with croun of massie gold a1500 Ib. 886. 1494 Loutfut MS. 16 a.
The leopart is a rycht cruell best and ... is generyt be adultery of lyoppart & the lynesse 1494 Ib.
The armes of Guyenne ar of a lieppart c1515 Asloan MS I. 302/25.
Bestis of filth as lyonis leopardis vnicornis … figuris hell lawest c1590 J. Stewart 17/79.
As tender faune … Quhan it persaifs the leopard auans
2. (Only in plur.) Leopard-skins or -furs. 1503 Treasurer's Accounts II. 208.
For mantillis of jenettis, contenand iiijc bestis, and foure mantillis of riggis of leopardis to the said goune, and pairt of the leopardis to the goune undirwritin 1503 Ib.
vij mantillis leopardis 1506 Ib. III. 249.
Wellus, to be ane cote to the King … it was lynyt with leopardis giffin be Thomas Lumysden 1506–7 Ib. 253, etc. 1507–8 Ib. IV. 18.
For leopardis that wantit to the said cote 1508 Ib. 25.
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"Leopard n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/leopard>
