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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.

Nobil(l)-, Noble-man, n. Also: nobil(l)e-, nobyl(l)-, -yle-, nobell-; nobble-; nowbille-. [e.m.E. noble man (1526).] .Appar. chiefly written as two words but latterly sometimes as one.

A noble man, in senses 1 and 2 of Nobil(l a.A nobleman, one of the nobility (= Nobil(l n. 1); a man distinguished for learning or valour, an illustrious or valorous man (= Nobil(l n. 2).For further examples see Michty a. 1 a (3).(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 218.
Valtir Steward of Scotland … Com vith a rout of nobill men That all be contynans mycht ken 1393 Reg. Morton II. 192.
This endenture … betwix a nobile man, Schir Jamys of Douglas … and [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii. 3009. a1500 Bernardus 16.
Gef ther progenitouris War nobyl men, gentyl and of valouris, Haffande liflate and land in heritagis 1504 Antiq. Aberd. & B. III. 138.
And failyeing of him with sum uthir nobil man worth six hundred merkis of lyffing 1535 Stewart 15668.
Rycht nobill men had lang bene at the lair That knew rycht weill the scriptour to declair 1540 Lynd. Sat. 676. 1544 Corr. M. Lorraine 90.
Nobille men a1578 Pitsc. I. 21/28, 366/17, etc. 1596 Dalr. I. 13/18.
Throuch the wisdome … of certane illustir and nobill men 1600 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxvi.
Of ane nobill man of Padoa 1622-6 Bisset II. 167/18.
Nobill man 1650 Laing MSS. I. 251.
Gentellmen and nobellmen and men of all rankes 1671 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 8 Apr.
Nobilmen(b) 1456 Hay I. 162/28.
The wisdome and the vaillaunce of a noble man of armes Ib. 278/27.
The principale caus of armes taking is for to knawe the personagis of noble men in bataill 1492 Myll Spect. 281/12. 1526 Douglas Corr. 109.
With mony nobble men to the noumer of vij thousand men one fute and hors 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 297.
Lat tham cum agayn for tha do lyk noble men, and als suay the Mour 1589–90 Reg. Privy C. IV. 829.
That the … Lord Maxwell was a nobleman weill affectit to Spane 1594 Acts IV. 72/2.
To the noble men baronis and gentilmen that [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I. 213/8.
Gladlier he hanted … with … geisteris than with noble men c1578 Reid Swire 150.
With Kirktown, Newtown, noble men 1602 Misc. Spald. C. II. 287.
Be noble men off our rank and abowe(c) 1545 Douglas Corr. 154.
Siklayk as uder nowbille men off the realme didde