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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.

Refus(e, -fuis(e, n.¹ Also: ref-, ra- and -fusse. [ME and e.m.E. refous (Manning), -fus (Gower), -fuse, appar. obs. after 1600, OF refus, f. refuser Refus(e v. Cf. Refus(en.²] (A) refusal; the act of refusing. a. The rejection of a person as a lover. Cf. Refus(e v. 3 b. 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 8356, 8357, 8361.
Or he may fall in sum vther luffing, That hir refuse may hender him no thing, Quhilk, had scho frawartlie gevin him refuse, He had tholit dede. … A schorte refuse is mare expedient … to schaw him hir entent

b. The denial (of something offered or asked); refusal (to do something); rejection.(1) 1491 Acts II 226/1.
That all sic gold salbe takin without refus. And quha sa dois in the contrare … the refusare sall tyne the penny be him refusit c1590 Fowler I 170/14.
Love is the swetar seasound with refuse — c1590 J. Stewart 39/325.
The moir he spurd, the moir refuse he fand(2) 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 187.
That thai … tak the said money … without ony refus 1571 Bann. Memor. 158.
I take thy last letter as a refuise of my cartell a1578 Pitsc. II 217/19.
My lord … depairtit to … the quein with ane refusse 1606 Haddington Corr. 213.
Efter … many refuses his maiestie at last yeildit(3) 1524 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXVIII 61.
Betuix the dait of hir sesing and tyme of the said refuse or disassent 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 110.
Howsone the complant is maid to him … of the refuse of sic mony c1575 Balfour Pract. 206.
The quhilk … refuse may be provin be writ or witnessis 1581 Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. IV 184 marg.
The refuse of Mr. Andro … to accep plaice in the presbrii a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 95.
The French king was … displeased for their refuse of the matrimonial crown to his son(4) 1563–4 Reg. Privy C. I 262.
Gif the said George comperis not … or in his absence or refuis [etc.] 1571 Acts III 68/1.
That thai sall nocht tak his refuis in evill part c1575 Balfour Pract. 646. ? 1582 Colville in Declar. Causis 27.
And, incais of thair refuse to be tane, to rais fire, assege housis [etc.] — 1579 Acts III 152/1.
Vpoun thair refuis or dilay 1588–9 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 16 March.
Vpone the quhilkis rafuis the said Mr. Thomas requirit instrument a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 49.(5) 1578 Reg. Privy C. III 13.
In caise of refuise, to caus denunce thame our rebellis 1592 Douglas Corr. 36.
Incais of refuis be ather of thame [etc.] 1593 Acts IV 47/2.
Incais of thair refuse to satisfie the kirk, to delait thair names [etc.] 1598 Paisley B. Rec. 224.
In cais of absence or refusis to be consignit in the hands of ane of the baillies 1606 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 115/1.
Incaice … of refuise of thame to mak any greittar offeris(6) c1500-c1512 Dunb. (O.U.P.) 124/36.
Thocht I in courte be maid refuse … , Ȝit [etc.] 1517 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 101.
For the refus that is maid amangis the kingis liegis in the taking of plakkis 1519 Edinb. B. Rec. I 190. 1567 G. Ball. 100.
Quha will delait, they will mak na refuse Of fa or fule 1576–7 Reg. Privy C. II 597.
Tuicheing the refuis maid be thame to ressave Henry Blyth … in gild brother(7) 1494 Loutfut MS 42a.
That neuer … be reffus of armys had he dishonour 1622-6 Bisset I 262/22.
The summes of silver be consigned in the handis of the clerk of the billis … eftir … refuse of ressait be the pairtie(b) 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I 107.
Lang captivitie, throw refuis of ressonabil ranson 1577 Inverness Rec. I 259.
Or yit in refuis of thair charge in our souerane lordis name to remane in ward 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 300.
A schaw of refuise of any supremacie above thair bretherine 1613 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 140.
In refuis of sufficient aill