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: 1450-1699
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Null, a. Also: nul, nul(l)e, nwll, nwle, noule, newll, (nill). [OF. nul masc., nulle fem., L. nullus, e.m.E. null (1639).]
1. Without legal force, void, invalid.At first only in predic. use. Also freq. null in the self.(1) 1542 Acts II. 416/2 (see Invalid(e a.). 1556 Protocol Book of T. Dalrymple 43.
The said pretendit assignacioun of the commoun law is null & na availe and aucht to be nullit 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 83.
Nul 1561–2 St. A. Kirk S. 131.
We … declaris the foyrsaid pretendit mariaige … to be and to have beyn fra the begynnyng nul 1561–2 Ib. 133. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 15/21.
Sen ȝe renunce and estemis that ordinatioun null 1581 Acts III. 211/2.
To be decernit null 1584 Prestwick B. Rec. 80. 1601 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (S.R.S.) 105.
Preceiding the daitis of thir presentis as faythles, noule and of nane effect 1614 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 43 b (27 Dec.).
The sessioune findis his excuse nul 1615 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 258.
Nule 1626 Justiciary Cases I. 49.
For the depositioun of ane infamous persone confessing the giltines of ane infamous cryme is null of the law a1633 Hope Major Pract. I. 66; etc. 1634 Dundonald Par. Rec. 386 (see Irrit a.). 1657 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 355.
Nule 1678 Justiciary Rec. II. 314 (see Invalidat(e p.p.). 1681 Hunter Fam. P. 66.
And declars all other pretendit marches … voyd newll & of no effect 1686 Fountainhall Decis. I. 432.
His sasine is null, bearing only [etc.] 1697 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 239.(2) 1545 Chart. Coupar A. II. 196.
This our letter of tak … to be of nane avale bot as expirit and nule in the self 1566 Reg. Privy C. I. 479.
Bot … esteme the samyn as null in the self 1572 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 28 Mar.
Nill 1576 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 52.
Null c1575 Balfour Pract. 13. 1591 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I. 359.
Nulle 1682 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. (25 Nov.).
b. Latterly also attrib. —a1650 Row 79.
After sixe null assemblies, wicked and unlawfull, holden … 1606 [etc.] 1678 Fountainhall Decis. I. 12.
It was a null writ wanting witnesses
2. Prefixed to a noun of action, at first only defence, in a legal context, expressing failure to perform what the noun denotes: = non-, not-.See also Defens n. 3 for further examples of (1).(1) 1450 Edinb. Univ. MS. Borland No. 206, 112.
And he … fore defait of apperance and fore nwll defence before the said lord [etc.] 1471 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXII. 195.
For nwle defencis and becaus nor he na yet na othir in his nam [etc.] 1491 Acts Lords Auditors 149/1. 1497–8 Acts Lords of Council II. 146.
That because he had his witnes redy … and for null defense optenit upone him [etc.] 1541 Lennox Mun. 243.
Tending thairthrow in his absence for null defence to dishereis him 1562 Reg. Privy S. V. i. 265/2. 1593 in Montg. (Suppl. ed. S.T.S. 59) p. 326. 16.. Hist. Kennedy 70.
Nwll(2) 1565 Instit. Ct. Sess. 14 a.
Protestatioun being maid in the contrair for null diligence 1581 Acts III. 219/2.
Letteris wilbe direct … to reduce for null productioun 1672 Stitchill Baron Ct. 62.
In respect of the defenders null compeirance
