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.
Ornament, n. [ME. (14–15th c.) and e.m.E., also e.m.E. ournament (1495), L. ornāmentum equipment, ornament, f. L. ornāre Orn v.: cf. Ournement (and Ornourment and Anournement).]
1. A furnishing or (chiefly) ornament or embellishment.Chiefly in plur., also (in senses 3 and 5 b) uninfl. as a coll.
1. pl. The accessories or furnishings of a church or its worship.Chiefly as consisting of vessels and vestments.c1420 Wynt. vii. 665.
Haly placys … till honowre in ornamentys, Jowellys, bukys, and vestymentys 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 81. 1505 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 75.
Keping of thair jouelis and ornamentis of thar kirk 1519 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II. 353.
Thai sall … decor and dote thar said altar with vestmentis buikis … ymagis and all vther ornamentis 1533 Boece vi. xii. 210.
The king … anornyt that kirk with cowpis, chalice, lawaris … and vthir precios ornamentis 1539 Chart. Coupar A. II. 147. 1546 Acts II. 470/1. 1559 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 323.
The grit occryst, chalices, siluer wark, and the maist coistly ornaments of the kirk 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 98. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 177/21.
Did nocht Dauid and Salamon … eik … magnific ornamentis to be vsit in the temple 1561 Inverness Rec. I. 71.
The ornamentis challesis pertenyng the Blak Freiris of Invernis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 113/23. 1596 Dalr. I. 204/36.
To S. Mairtine … he dedicated a fair kirke weil garnissed and in fair ornamentis and noble decore
2. pl. Objects of value as the emblems of an office or dignity; insignia or regalia.1456 Hay II. 92/16.
Sa that throu the nobilitee of him [the King], his ornamentis and estate, all his contree war the mare prisit 1533 Bell. Livy I. 140/27.
[He] nakit him … of al ornamentis [L. insignia] pertenyng to the dignite consular Ib. 291/5.
Serjandis, armit with axis, wandis, and vthir ornamentis riall 1533 Boece ii. ii. 60.
Ferichare … ressauit princelie ornamentis quhilkis war ane nakit swerde … ane scepture with ane crowne of gold Ib. iii. 61. 1588 King Cat. 81.
All outuard apparell and ornaments of this vnbloody sacrifice as haly vestments, vessell, luminairs [etc.] c1650 Spalding I. 230.
The commissioner, cairfull of the keiping of the ornamentis of the croun, keipit thame in a secreit place Ib.
The estaites held ane parliament by thame selfis without ane commissioner or ornamentis of the croun
3. pl. (also coll.) Objects of personal adornment.pl. 1498–9 Acta Conc. II. 297.
The chenȝe of gold … ane uche of gold set with ane safyr and perle … war the ornaments of hir persone 1533 Bell. Livy II. 183/23.
Al the matronis of Rome … brocht all thare ornamentis in the tressourhous that the same mycht be sauld 1533 Boece vi. xv. 217 b.
Larouns … quhilk … dispulȝeit hir of hors, money, clething and all attyrement according the honeste of wemen … The legate, apprehending the rubbaris … , restoring hir ornamentis 1568 Lyndesay Pref. 398.
He brocht in ane bischop, ane persone, [etc.] … deckit vp in thair papisticall ornamentis 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 45. a1578 Pitsc. I. 17/13.
To carrye away twa cofferis with hir claithes and ornamenttis 1609 Hist. Fam. Seton 651.
With the ornamentis of thair bodies, goldsmyth and siluer wark 1619 Fam. Innes 210.
That ye vill doe me honor the day off my laureatione in giffing me in len the best ornaments ye heuecoll. a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 579.
My cop and clapper and myne ornament And all my gold the lipper folk sall haue Quhen I am deid c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i. 52.
Twa ȝoung ȝounkeirs … In riche array and honest ornament Ib. ii. 127. Id. Seven S. 8062.
Richt weill besene in honest ornament
4. fig. Referring to the stars.Only in verse.c1552 Lynd. Mon. 245.
The heych heuinnis with all thair ornamentis 1567 G. Ball. 94. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. li. i.
Ȝe hevinis abone with heavinlie ornamentis
5. pl. a. Accessories or appurtenances generally. b. A boat's or ship's equipment or tackle. Also coll.a. 1534 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. VI. 78.
The ornamentis of four beddis that is to say schetis blancatis coveringis coddis 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV. 505.
The stanys quellis and utheris ornamentis of the … myln 1612 Ib. IX. 454. 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 214.
The cisternes and ornaments thereof to be built upon the Hie Streit and buy lanesb. 1569 Edinb. Test. 260.
Ane bark … with sailis ankeris towis and vtheris hir ornamentis 1574 Ib. III. 41 b. 1578 Crail B. Ct. 7th Oct.
The said crear with hir furnitour and haile ornamentis 1587 Prot. Bk. J. Mason (A.A.A. 6) 244. 1673 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 8th Jan.
Ther twa common ferrie boats … with ther ornamentscoll. 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 26th Aug.
That the said tow wes ane pert off the … ornament off the schip
II. 6. The action of adorning; adornment, enhancement, embellishment.1490 Irland Mir. II. 79/17.
Bot than thai membris [of generation] sal be in gret honour and ornament of the persoune 1702 Irvine Mun. II. 112.
The magistrats … did ( … for the … ornament of the said burgh) cause build a stone brace in the south wall
b. ? (The manner of) fitting out or furnishing with components.a1538 Abell 77 a.
The malis of Sathan … to be tholit for the ornament of the vniuers erar wald
