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: 1399-1513
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Selcouth, adj. Also: selcuth, selkouth, selkuth. [ME and e.m.E. sellcúþ (Orm), sulcuð (Layamon), selcuth (Cursor M.), selcouth (Manning, Spenser), selcowth (c1460 Towneley Myst.), OE sel(d)cúþ, f. seld-an seldom, and cúþ known (Couth adj.).] Unfamiliar, unusual; extraordinary, strange; marvellous, wonderful.a1400 Legends of the Saints xix 561.
And ȝet that stule, be Godis grace, vndir hyme as vax moltine was, That to se was selkuth thinge a1400 Legends of the Saints l 406.
Lo here a selcuth begynnyng! c1420 Wynt. v 5678 (W).
Machemete … wes a man of selcouth slicht c1450-2 Howlat 318 (A).
Ernes … Quhilk … Perses the sone with thair sicht, selcouth to herd 1460 Hay Alex. 18581.
The sone … wes ouersyillit with ane selcouth hew a1500 Golagros and Gawane 266.
Herd thair euer ony sage sa selcouth ane saw! a1500 Golagros and Gawane 409.
Selcouth war the sevint part to say at saw a1500 Golagros and Gawane 1338. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace v 248. 1513 Doug. iii viii 103.
This is the selkouth Caribdis 1513 Doug. vii i 106.
A selcouth thing to se [L. visa nefas], in hir syde hair It semyt the hait fyre kyndillit bricht 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 4.
A selcouth seg I saw to my sycht … (Was nevir wrocht … mair wofull a wycht) 1513 Doug. xi vi 112.
Ane selcouth monstre, lo, betyd hes me 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 65.
The swardit soyll enbrovd with selcouth hewys
