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: 1400-1549
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Roundnes, n. Also: rownd-. [ME and e.m.E. roundenes (c1374); Round adj.]
1. a. The quality of being round. b. Circumference.a. 1494 Loutfut MS 38b.
Besans, besance and grenete … ar all rond & of a metall quhilk representis the warld be thare roundnesb. 14.. Acts I 310/2.
The boll … sould haue … in the roundnes and circumference abone lxxij inches and in the roundnes at the boddom lxxi inches 14.. Ib.
Rowndnes c1515 Asloan MS I 153/20.
The roundnes of the warld about is iijcxv syis cm pase c1515 Ib. 310/23.
The lenth of the erd xm mylis the breid alsmekle and the roundnes xxxm mylis
2. A round object or formation. Also, pl. without inflection. 1456 Hay II 113/14.
Astronomy … is dividit in to thre parties: … in first in the roundnes and in the cercleis motives 1494 Loutfut MS 38a.
Poil … And abone is set diapreure maid be roundnes and partit about ande within the roundnes aigles & lyons maid of the colour of gold 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 56/1.
Ane parson that behaldis ane roundnes of ane gritar quantite nor is the space betuix his tua een, that parson sal nocht see sa mekil as is the half of that roundnes [etc.]
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"Roundnes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/roundnes>
