A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1590
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Mercenarye, a. [e.m.E. and ME. (Chaucer), L. mercēnārius, F. mercenaire.] Mercenary (troops), also absol. — c1590 Fowler II. 102/10.
Pape Juley … observing … the … vnhappie yssew of his mercenarye armye c1590 Ib. 104/11.
Cesar Borgia … did cast his thoughts to the waging of mercenarye
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"Mercenarye adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/mercenarye>
