A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1456-1639
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Scismatik, S(c)hismati(c)k(e, adj. and n. Also: sis-, sys- and -matyk(e, -mat(t)ike, -matique; chismatick. Pl. also schismakis. [ME and e.m.E. cysmatyke adj. (Prompt. Parv.), scismatik n. (Piers Plowman), schismatique (1579), OF cis-, scismatique), med. L. cismatic-, eccl. L. schismatic-.]
A. adj. Guilty of causing, or supporting, schism; of, or pertaining to, schism. 1456 Hay I 109/19.
The subjectis of the emperour suld kepe thair obedience till him alset he war scismattike 1456 Ib. II 38/37.
For rycht as homycide, symony, usure and scismatyke condicioun repellis clerkis fra benefice and honour and all dignitee 1608 Reg. Privy C. VIII 102.
As being unworthy shismatik memberis of a kirk
B. noun. One who instigates, promotes or supports a breach in the unity of Christendom, or of the Church; a member of a schismatic sect. 1456 Hay II 29/8.
Quhen a knycht is a revare [etc.] … or a lollard, scismatike or heretike … than is he unworthy for to lyve 1456 Ib. I 14/19 (see S(c)ism(e n. 1 (5)). 1490 Irland Mir. II 68/34.
The herretikis and scismatikis that trowis in thar fals opynioun and obeyis nocht to the kyrk a1500 Tale of the Colkelbie Sow i 86.
A lunatik a sismatyk An heretyk [etc.] a1538 Abell 48a.
Paip Pelage … ordanit at herritikis and scismatikis suld be strenȝet be seculair powar c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5731.
All … arratykis, All fals dissaitfull sysmatykis 1562-3 Winȝet I 41/15.
Drawing the peple and ȝour selfis fra our trew Hierusalem … to the priuat conuenticules of schismatikis and heretikis 1562-3 Ib. II 70/33.
Lat ws nocht follow … eftir the cursit custome of schismatikis and hæretikis, the erroure of ane man [etc.] 1568 Knox VI 493.
But if that they will still cry that we ar schismatykes and apostates, because we refuse to defyle ourselves with their abhominationis 1570 Leslie 42.
Patrick Grahame Archebischop of St. Androis … wes decernit ane heretique, scismatike, symoniak [etc.] 1570–1 Knox VI 594.
A schismaticke I can not be proven 1581 Burne Disput. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. 131/34.
Except onlie to mak professione that ye are schismakis and vill haue na thing commone vith Christis kirk 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (STS) 76/29.
The neu startup Caluinistis and vtheris scismatiques a1585 Polwart Flyt. 621 (T).
He was ane fals schismatik [H. chismatick], notor[ious]lie namit 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xvi 6/17.
I am no schismatick
b. transf. Applied to pre-Christian Israelites and to Muhammad. 1456 Hay I 7/26.
Jebusienis that war fals scismatikis 1535 Stewart 29456.
The scismatik callit wes Mohomeit, In Arrabie closit his latter dayis
c. One who stirs up faction or rebellion. 1535 Stewart 17584.
[Carentius] an infideill, … Ane trumpour tratour to Cesar his lord, Ane scismatike and sawer of discord
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"Scismatik adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/scismatik>
