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.
Monster, Monstre, Monstour(e, -ur(e, n.1 Also: -ir, -ar, -or, -uire, -wre, munsture. [ME. (Cursor M.) and e.m.E. monstre, e.m.E. also monster, -ur, OF. monstre, L. monstrum, orig. a divine portent or warning, f. the root of monēre to warn.]
1. A living creature having a congenital physical abnormality or deformity; a misshapen birth, an abortion; a repulsively deformed creature, a monstrosity.Also comb. with -like (Like E 1 a).For man-monster, see Man n. 12 b.c1420 Wynt. i. 689.
Thare ar monstrys mony sere … That nane can wyt in propyrte Quhethyr thai man or best sulde be c1450-2 Howlat 73.
[Nature] That thus has maid on the mold ane monstour of me 1490 Irland Mir. I. 68/14.
The errouris and deformiteis that fallis jn monstris now had nocht bene jn that state, for thai are panys causit throu syn c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxiii. 110.
The fowlis all at the fedrem dang As at a monster thame amang 1533 Boece xi. ii. 403.
In the monstir war twa men a1538 Abell 8 * a.
Monstar born in Kelso Ib.
Monsturris 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 43.
Monsture 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 235.
Ane sow ferryit … xiiij grysis, of the quhilkis thair wes ane a monstoure a1578 Pitsc. I. 233 h. of ch.
Hou the King gart tak gret cuire upon the samyn munsture [v.r. monstar]; quhat heiddis the munsture had a1605 Montg. Flyt. 279 (T).
They fand ane monstour on the morne War facit nor ane cat Ib. 407.comb. c1650 Spalding I. 62.
Thair wes sein in the river of Done ane monster like beist, haueing the heid like to ane … dog … and handis … like to ane man
2. A being of grotesque appearance (and, freq., ferocious nature), such as a mythical monster or a demon.a1500 Henr. Orph. 253 (Ch. & M.) .
Cerberus, A hund of hell, a monster meruailus Ib. 475. 1494 Loutfut MS. 32 b.
Ane monstre in the sey that in his first partye is in form of ane armyt knycht c1515 Asl. MS. I. 309/18.
Hercules that slewe & wencust the monyest giandis and cruellest monstouris c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxv. 28.
Thir terrible monsteris [sc. a griffin and a she-dragon] 1513 Doug. iii. iv. 10. Ib. vii. vi. 8, xiv. 10, x. iv. 124. a1538 Abell 43 b.
[They] fand in bed with hir in harmes ane wglie and horrible monsture 1549 Compl. 63/14. 1567 G. Ball. 214.
3. A person of repulsively unnatural character; one given to unnatural vices; an inhumanly cruel or wicked person.a1500 Henr. Orph. 13. (Ch. & M.).
A ryall renk for to be rusticate Is bot a monster in comparison, Had in despyte and foule derision c1500-50 Brevis Cronica 325.
Ane vicious monstoure given to immoderate lust and avarice Ib.
Ane bloudy monstour, regnand with insaciabill awarice 1531 Bell. Boece I. 84.
The nobillis thocht this effeminat monstoure … unworthy to be thair prince 1535 Stewart 38345.
Tha mad monstouris without humanitie [sc. Norsemen] a1538 Abell 83 b.
Thare wes na bastard abbatis than monstouris in seculair weid 1562-3 Winȝet II. 81/13.
That … unnatural monstre of man … quha labouris al his wittis … to thraw … the … honor of his father to be a vyce 1567 Sat. P. vii. 43.
To se ane monstuire, full of fylthynes Abone the rest heich mountit vp in gloir 1596 Dalr. I. 118/24.
Rychtlie may thay be esteimed nocht men, bot certane monstiris of nature, cled in the forme of man
4. a. Applied to persons as a strong term of opprobrium in various of the above senses.c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 53.
Mismaid monstour c1500-c1512 Kennedy Ib. 514. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1344. Ib. 2998. c1568 Lauder Minor P. iv. 10.
Ane maykles monstour withoutin wit or lair 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4068.
Ane mensles monsture Ib. 10726. 1567 G. Ball. 174.
Sum makis God of freiris caip, Thay monstouris mot in gallous gaip 1572 Buch. Detect (1727) 38.
To defend innocencie aganis thay wickit monsteris
b. Applied fig. in personifications and to institutions, conditions and other non-material things.c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxvi. 91.
The fowll monstir Glutteny Off wame vnsasiable and gredy 1513 Doug. Conscience 27.
Go hens thow monsture paralous Id. Æn. xiv 43.
Wilt thou I traste this monstre perellus [sc. the sea]? 1562-3 Winȝet I. 6/31.
The twa infernal monstris Pryde and Auarice 1568 Charteris Lyndesay Pref. Adhort.
Ȝit neuer poeit … Sa cleirlie schew that monstour with his markis, The Romane god 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 15.
Natur … nathir attentis nor may expell sic ane horrible monstour [sc. the plague] fra the spirituall partis without the support of medicinall handis 1585 James VI Ess. 39. c1600 Montg. Suppl. xxiv. 14.
Bot onlie of this monstwre Luif we dout 1609 Acts IV. 434/2.
That his maiestie wha hes … exterminat that abhominable pest of deadlie feedis may … find meanis … to prevent the reviveing of that monster
5. a. A strange and terrifying or awesome phenomenon or event, a wonder, marvel.a1500 Henr. Orph. 475 (Bann.).
The secound monstour [Ch. & M. monstris, Asl. monstouris] ar the sistiris thre 1513 Doug. iii. Prol. 12.
Now most I write … Wild aventuris, monstreis and quent effrays Ib. v. ix. 61.
And sone betyd and in thar sychtis sprang A fellon grysly monstre and wondryng Ib. iii. viii. 150, vii. i. 126.
b. Something extraordinary or unnatural (which is an occasion of wonder and dismay).1533 Bell. Livy II. 74/30.
Is it nocht ane huge monstoure … that it [the city] suld haue made him king? 1558 Knox IV. 383.
He that judgeth it a monstre in nature that a woman shall exercise weapons, must judge it to be a monstre of monstres that a woman shalbe exalted above a hole realme
c. A monstrous example (of vice). —1562-3 Winȝet I. 44/28.
Fra ingratitude and vtheris deuyllische monstres of vice
6. A very large creature, an animal of huge size.1513 Doug. ii. iv. 68.
This fatale monstre [the Trojan horse] clam our the wallis then Ib. 84. 1562 Reeves Sc. Prose bef. 1600 79.
His [Golyas] awin barnis gangand about him … all monstoris to behald and luke on
b. spec. A large aquatic creature, a sea-monster. Also comb. with fische.Also with admixture of earlier senses, adding the notions of strange or grotesque appearance and ferocious disposition. Also sey monster, q.v.1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 23.
Fludis monstreis, sik as meirswyne or quhalis a1538 Abell 2 a.
The fift day He maid the fisch and fowlis and gret monsturis in the see c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1537. Ib. 4775. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlix. 11.
The … gulfe of Perse … Quhare is no fish bot monsters fell and feir[se]comb. 1559–60 Treas. Acc. XI. 12.
For ane skin of ane monstour fische of the see, vj li.
