A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1610-1690
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Refractory, -orie, adj. [17th c. Eng. refracturie (1606), -orie (1613), altered var. of Refractarie adj. Cf. Refractar adj. and Refractive adj.] Refractory; not amenable. a. Stubbornly unwilling (to do something), also (unto) (of doing something). b. Obstinate (in wrong-doing or opposition). c. Strongly opposed (to something); refusing compliance. d. Refractory in (unto) (payment), unwilling to pay dues or the like.a. c1610 Melville Mem. (1735) 174.
He seemed somewhat refractory of accepting the Government 1649 Salmon Borrowstounness 277.
Those who are refractory to do so good a workb. 1653 Binning Wks. 558.
There are different tempers of mind among men, some more smooth and pliable, others more refractory and froward 1682 Dunblane Synod 187.
As to chaplaines refractorie herein [etc.] 1690 Cullen Kirk S. II 5 Oct.
John Taws refractorie would not obey the Sessions order & therfor was ordained to stand in the juggsc. 1652 Dumfries Kirk S. 20 Dec.
If she sall be refractorie to this order & sentence she is to be summondit to appeir bwfoire the presbitried. 1670 Edinb. B. Rec. X 87.
Such persones as are lyable [or] refractorie in the payment of the said impost 1676 Rothesay B. Rec. 348.
Ther is some of the heretours … refractory in payment of the same 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 295.
The heretores … should satisfie him therefore [sc. the cost] whereunto they are at present refractorie
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"Refractory adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/refractory>
