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.
Particle, -ickle, -ikill, -ikile, Perticall, n. [ME. and e.m.E. pl. partyclys (1380), -iclis (c 1400), sing. perticle (1398), particle (1526), L. particula, dimin. of pars, part-, Particul(e n.] A small piece, portion or section of (a text, an account, food). b. A minor part of speech, a particle in grammar.1490 Irland Mir. I. 24/4.
This hevinly orisoune … js sa preignant … I will discend speciale to declare euirilk partikile of yt 1562 Q. Kennedy Ressoning in 1558-66 Knox VI. 207.
I perceave John Knox does not meit the heid of my partickle, quhair I do mark the conferrence betuix the phrases of the scriptures alledged be us baith 1567–8 Mar & Kellie MSS. 19.
ij particles beif 1577 Melrose Reg. Rec. III. 135.
Summa of this last perticall nocht in use of payment 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I. 105.
And farder that partikill of the thesauraris compt berand that [etc.] 1673 Aberd. Council Lett. V. 300.
In respect to the said particle extractit out of the Commissary of Aberdeins booksb. c1616 Hume Orthog. 29.
This difference [of case] we declyne, not as doth the Latines and Greekes, be terminationes, but with noates, after the maner of the Hebrues, quhilk they cal particles
