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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Obstacle, n. Also: obstakle, -il(l, -yll(e, -ile, -yle, obstacile, -ul(e, -ull, obstaikle, -yll, obstickle, -ill, obstikelle. [ME. obstakil (Rolle), obstacle, ostakyl, e.m.E. obstakell, obstacle, -ul, OF. obstacle, earlier ostacle (13th c. in Godef.), L. obstāculum.] An obstacle, obstruction, impediment, hindrance (but only in the non-material or fig. applications of these).(1) 1389 Liber Melros II. 449.
Frely to pas withoutyn ony askyng or taking of custume or ony obstacle or lettyng in ony point 1398 Slater Early Sc. Texts No. 38.
Withowten obstakil 1402 Reg. Panmure II. 184.
The said Alexander … sale fulli wythoutyn ony obstakyle, fraud or gyle deliver [etc.] 1423 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 37.
Bot ony obstakyll impediment or ganecallynge 1440 Acts II. 55/2. 1443 Highland P. II. 179.
But ony obstakil questioun or demaund 1447 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 197.
But obstacle assonye or delay 1469 Douglas Chart. 98.
Obstacul 1481–2 Misc. Spald. C. II. 325.
Forhowte frawde gylle … or obstakylle of ony maner 1492 Highland P. II. 192.
Obstacule 1513 Doug. ii. iii. 94.
Than schew he that the pepil of Asya But ony obstakill in fell batale suld ga Ib. ix. vii. 179. 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 953.
Obstaikle 1538 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 194.
Obstakyll 1548 Crim. Trials I. i. 342*.
Bot ony reuocatioune, obstacile [etc.] 1551 Banf Ann. II. 379.
Obstacull 1572 Canongate Ct. Bk. 362. c1650 Spalding II. 325.
Without ony kynd of contradictioun or obstacull(2) 1536 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 174.
Quhat detrement of the pris be throu the obstaikyll we ordand [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. I. 141/14.
That he wald exasperat thame of Ingland … quha already wald haue invadit the Scottis airmie war nocht the greatter obstakill and impediement 1657 Balfour Ann. IV. 278.
Ordred that … they wold haist ther meitting for remouing that obstikelle and scruple

b. To make obstacle, also obstacles, to put (an) obstacle, to offer resistance or obstruction, to resist, hinder, obstruct.(1) 1375 Barb. xvi. 260 (E).
Thai fand nane that thaim obstakill maid 1424 Coldstream Chart. 42.
That thai mak ony letting or obstakil or punding for the said land 1471 Acta Aud. 21/2. 1481 Charter (Reg. H.) C.O. No. 72.
Gif it happynys me … to mak obstakill … to the said Thomas … in his pesabill brukyn … of the malis 1513 Doug. xii. xiv. 68.
Quhat evir to do by hys strenth etlyt he, Scho maid obstakill 1531 Bell. Boece II. 93.
The Scottis … slew all thaim that maid obstakill a1538 Abell 109 b. 1562-3 Winȝet II. 25/21.
He mair than the rest maid obstacle 1566 Oliphants 100. a1578 Pitsc. I. 30/2.
Gif they haid maid ony obstickle Ib. 32/9.
Sum of the Kingis serwandis … maid obstickill and debeit c1590 Fowler II. 157/12.
Fortoun turneth hir furie quhair shee knaweth na obstacles nor defenses ar maid to repres her 1632 Lithgow Trav. 126.
The French men making obstacle to pay that which I had given(2) 1490 Irland Mir. II. 134/5.
It is thi awne faute that thi chawmer is myrk for thou puttis thar an obstakle Ib. MS. 232 a.
Obstakile Id. Asl. MS. I. 14/3.
And puttand nane obstakle of dedly syn the confessoun makis the … penitent sekir of all thire Ib. 59/5.
Than thow perseueris in syn and puttis obstakle