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: 1501-1617
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Nymph(e, Nimph(e, n. [ME. (Gower) and e.m.E. nimph(e, nymph(e, OF. nimphe, F. nymphe, L. nympha.] a. A nymph. b. In poetry: A beautiful woman, a damsel. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 881.
Fresche nymphes of water and of sey 1501 Ib. 1865 (E).
My nimphe 1513 Id. Æn. vii. vi. 86.
In wild dotage But resson, strikkin with the nymphis rage 1513 Ib. viii. vi. 7.
Nymphis and fawnys … Quhilk … elvys clepyng we 1513 Ib. i. iv. 24, xii. Prol. 188. c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii. 92.
Thair was Guanour … With mony vther nimphis fair and schene c1550 Ib. 232.
Thir nimphis of honour To pleis Venus kest all thair appetite a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvii. 50. c1590 J. Stewart II. 122/15. c1590 Ib. 15/1.
Quhan all the gratius nymphs preclair Bestows thair lywelic liquor frie c1590 Fowler I. 52/120. 1590 Mill Mediæval Plays 198.
For making of the nymphis clais c1611–c1617 Mure Early Misc. P. xv. 19.
Nimph
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"Nymph n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/nymphe>
