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: 1456-1606
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Misreul(e, n. Also: mys- and -reugle, -reull(e, -rewll, -rewl(l)e, -rewill, -rul(l)e. [ME. and e.m.E. myserule (1399), mis-, mysrewle (c 1400), -reule.]
1. Want of rule or firm government, misgovernment; the state of disorder, lawlessness or indiscipline resulting from this. 1456 Hay II. 11/15.
Than was syk mysreugle and misgouernaunce … amang the peple for fault of justice c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iv. 741.
My men ar left all at mysrewill for me 1535 Stewart 59919.
For moir misrewll wes neuir … Into Scotland 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 526. 1540 Id. Sat. 26. 1570 Leslie 85.
Thair wes greit misreule apoun the bourdouris 1587 Reg. Morton I. 155.
Finding sum new attemptatis of misreule and inobedience 1606 Melrose P. 21.
The present misreule of the incuntrey, and vnquietnes of the heylandis
2. Unruly or lawless conduct; commotion, riot, mutiny, outrage. Also, an instance of this, and in plur.Chiefly, to mak, do or commit misreul.(1) 1511 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XI. 107.
Throu multitud of peple that cumis in the consale hous makand gret noys and misreule 1516 Acts Lords of Council MS. XXIX. 77.
[If any within Huntly's bounds make] misreulle upon his liegis 1523 Ib. XXXIV. 19.
Gif ony truble or misreul be done be Franche men 1533 Boece vii. x. 240.
Fra the est sey to the west sey … grete brulȝe and mysreule was made 1532 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. I. 117.
That nane of thame committ ony misrewle during the said tyme 1552 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 171.
Vnlawis prowidit for swering … that be na takin thairof it offendis God and makis mysrule a1578 Pitsc. I. 26/21.
Scho was frie of all misrewlle commitit be hir husband(2) 1602 Elgin Rec. II. 100.
Na misrewle this daye bot a gyt conventioun(3) 1456 Hay II. 55/16.
A lytill misreugle or affray makis all to flee(4) 1548 Grant Chart. 102.
Forsayemekill as the said Ewin … hes doin innormiteis and misrewillis to the said James landis
3. Disorderly, ill-conducted or irregular way of life, misconduct, excess. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix. 223.
In sic mysrewll I sall neuir armes ber Bot gyff it be in honest oys tower a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 224.
O cristin saull … Of thi misreull think tyme it war to rewe 1502 Perth Guildry 151 (26 July).
It is thocht expedient … for the stanching of the said Jhone Brisonnis mysrewll that he be remowit owt of consale 1533 Boece x. xii. 375.
The ȝong gallandis … with lous renȝeis ran in sin and mysreul 1533 Ib. xv. iii. 578.
Sic wanton latis and mysreul 1540 Acts II. 370/2.
The vnhonestie and misreule of kirkmen, baith in witt knawlege and maneris … is … caus that the kirk and kirkmen are … contempnit c 1550 Balcarres P. 316.
I am waray plenteiz of my sonnis misrewill a1578 Pitsc. II. 110/2.
The Scoittismen … slew the provest … and his eldest sone … because they wald haue put order to thair misrulle
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"Misreul n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/misreule_n>
