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.
Scrupul(o)us, Scripulus, adj. Also: scrupulows, scruplous; scroupulous, -elous. [Late ME and e.m.E. scrupulous (1450-1530), screpulus (1464), scrupilouse (1513), scripulous (1601), F. scrupuleux, -euse (late 13th c. in Larousse), L. scrūpulōs-, f. scrūpul-. (Cf. Scrupil(l n.)] a. Meticulous in matters of procedure, law, etc.; also more generally in matters of conscience. b. Hesitant, reluctant concerning (of) (a duty or privilege), or, perhaps, merely a further example of a above.a. (1) 1549 Compl. 165/3.
Sum scripulus preistis, hefand there consciens subiect to traditions, quha sais, that it is nocht leiful [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 159/33.
And ȝe be sua scrupulows scripturaris that ȝe [etc.] 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 572.
Albeit that my Lord of Murray … be lyttill les scrupulous for ane Protestant 1624 Aberd. Council Lett. I 223.
He was sumquhat scruplous and said he sould have acknowledgement for your entrie 1689 Siege Castle Edinb. 35 (see Scrupil(l n. 3 b).
Scroupulous(2) 1549 Compl. 163/34.
Nane of the sperutualite suld be scripulus in this byssynes considerand that Goddis lau [etc.] 1581–2 Misc. Stair Soc. I 118.
[He] was in that verrie scrupulus(3) 1549 Compl. 164/17.
I vil sateisfe there scrupulus consciens vitht sum cheptours of the canon lau 1688 Dunblane Synod 64.
This practise as it hath nothing in it that can offend any even the most scrupulus mindes, so [etc.]b. 1653 Stirling Ant. II 14.
The said Mr. Harie was scroupelous of the parioches band but condeschended to … tak trayell for a term
