We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1570-1610, 1673-1687

[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1]

Stratagem, -gim, Strategem(e, Stratigem, n. [e.m.E. stratageme (Caxton), -gem (1589), OF strategeme (14th c. in Larousse), L. strategema.] a. In military operations: A trick or cunning device devised by a commander to gain an advantage over the enemy. b. A trick or cunning device, more generally. c. A cruel and violent action. —a. 1570 Leslie 218.
Purposing to assey the winning of the toun be a strategem called a camisado
1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 50*.
And syne I thinke with some stratagemis [v.r. strangeris] ye may easilie conqueis this cuntrie
c1610 Melville Mem. 362.
Be a strategeme subtilly deuysed of a schip full of poudre with a bournyng lont [etc.]
1681 Stair Inst. iv xl § 23.
But if they be induced for their own good … it is dolus bonus … Thus all stratagems of war are justified
b. 1673 Fugitive Poetry II xxxiii 5/110.
No matter, since my stratigem Did make you play an after game
c. 1687 Fugitive Poetry II xl 2/31.
[To] torture them alive, like mallefactors, Or, in some murdering stratagim, great actors Would fix their heads up in the marcat places

40224

dost

Hide Advanced Search

Browse DOST:

    Loading...

Share: