A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1578
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Principal(l)y, adv. Also: -al(l)ie, -illie, prynci-, princepaly, princiepallie, prinspaly. [ME principal(l)y (Rolle), -liche (Ayenbite), e.m.E. principally.] Chiefly, especially; primarily; particularly.(1) 1456 Hay I 113/15.
And quhat thing him belangis principaly a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 1415.
Thi neid requirith ful contretioune, Princepaly with-out conclusioune 1490 Irland Mir. I 22/24.
Bot that suld nocht be first and principaly desirit, bot to help and pas the pilgramage c1490 Id. Asl. MS I 52/23.
In God principaly 1513 Doug. ii ii 39.
Thys principaly I wald thou vndyrstude 1513 Ib. iii vi 17. a1538 Abell 115 b.
On tha relegios men at principaly inpungnit hir blissit concepcyon(2) 1456 Hay II 65/7.
Till knychthede afferis principaly tobe amorous of the commoun prouffit 1471 Peebles B. Rec. I 167.
That ilk man kep nychburhed in yardyn, princepaly forfrunt and hedyard c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix 561.
For pryncipaly he band with ws the trew 1551 Hamilton Catechism 30.
Gif our intencion be principally to get any … reward of man, thane is our deid sa done myrke 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 48.
And travellit principallie with the Laird of Grange(3) c1460 Alex. (Taym.) (ed.) 1211.
And principallie thairof was Tholome 1472 Peebles B. Rec. I 168.
And the sayd hyll to be somyt, and principaly the ester hill a1500 Bernardus 176. 1490 Irland Mir. I 164/3. 1497 Reg. Cupar A. I 309.
And prinspaly the said Thomas is oblyst [etc.] 1513 Doug. ii ii 98. a1538 Abell 112 a.
He wes werra liberall and principalie to strangearis — a1538 Abell 70 b.
And that principalie for his gude exempill to his subditis(4) 1513 Doug. i xi 36.
Bot principaly the fey onsylly Dydo … Mycht not refreyn nor satisfy hir consait 1513 Ib. xiii ix 65.
Bot principaly Eneas … And Latinus … The gestis can rehers 1513 Ib. x xiii 19. a1578 Pitsc. I 110/20.
Bot princiepallie James Kennidie(5) a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 2989.
Considering how that the necessitee Most prinspaly to yhowr supporting lyis 1490 Irland Mir. 58/8.
The hevin imperiall … maist principaly ordand … for the multitud of the haly angellis c1500 Rowll Cursing 237 (M).
Maist principillie to schaip thair grayth In hell
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"Principaly adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/principally>
