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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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Styl(e, Stil(e, Still, n. Also: styil(l, styll(e, stille, steille. [ME and e.m.E. stile, still (both in Cursor M.), style (Lydgate), steele (1585), OF estile, stile, style (14th c. in Larousse), L. stilus.]

1. The manner of wording of a legal document, chiefly with reference to the usual, traditional or acceptable form; a particular wording, esp. of an obligation (Obligatio(u)n n. 2 b). Also common, ordiner, etc. style. Also attrib. with men, persons whose function was to draw up documents. See also Style-buke n.(a) 1398 MacRae Early Sc. Texts No. 5.
Efter the style & the fourme of the charter 1460 Stewart Mem. 64.
All thir condicionis … to kepe and fullfill … we oblis ws … be style of obligacioun coniunctly a1500 Henr. Fab. 1153.
A fraudfull volff wes iuge that tyme … And on the scheip send furth ane strait summoun. For by the vse and cours and commoun style On this maner maid his citatioun; ‘I, Maister Volff, [etc.]’ 1535 Stewart 18405.
And als he suld quitte [cl]ame … The landis … in fe and heretage To Scot and Pecht … Desyrand thame for to renew the bandis Was maid befoir … And he to thame with stylis of the new, Hes oblist him to thame ay till be trew 1622-6 Bisset I 126/12.
The auld style to be keipit 1681 Stair Inst. iii i § 4.
An assignation doth necessarily require the clear expressing of the cedent, assignee and thing assigned; and though the ordinary style of it be known yet any terms that may express the transmission … will be sufficient 1681 Stair Inst. iii v § 38.
The style of brieves is not to be altered 1681 Stair Inst. iv iv § 47.
We shall not here insist in the nature or tenor of all these declaratory actions but shall only touch these that are of a more simple nature and common style(b) 1480 Newbattle Coll. (Somerville).
I … oblissis me … in the stratast stil & mast sekyr furm of obligation that kan be devisit in the som of thua hundreth pondis 1490 Misc. Spald. C. IV 186.
Stile 1585 Acts III 377/2.
That the secretair admonishe all his deputis and writtairis to the signet that nane of thame tak vpon hand to writt or put in forme onie maner of signatour or lettre … that contenis nowaltie or informalitie contrair the lovable and accustumat style & forme … and that euerie writtair subscriue his name on the bak of the signatour or lettre … that it is writtin according to the ordiner stile and forme 1694 Fountainhall Decis. I 674. 1697 Dallas Stiles title.
System of stiles, as now practicable within the kingdom of Scotland and reduced to a clear method not heretofore [etc.] 1699 Fountainhall Decis. II 48. 1700 D. Hume Accompt of Estate 99.
Which haill writs are to be … presumed to be of the usual stile and tenor of such writs(c) 1488–9 Misc. Spald. C. II 258.
Styill 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 159.
To summond … Barbara Sandelandis [etc.] … accordyng to the common styill and practik of this realm 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 108.
To that pairt of the said pretendit articles berring that the falsett apperis be the phrais of the charter in the language, maner of constructioune … etc. Anseris the phraise, styill, indytement, [etc.] … is na argument of falsett(d) 1463 Wemyss Chart. 83.
That this my obligacione … beir in the selff the fors, the fourme and the effek, als weill as the said stille war insert in this my said obligacione 1466 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 395.
I … oblis me … in the sickirrast forme & straictast stille of obligacione 1510 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 10.
Still 1565 Edinb. Univ. MS La.iii.388a, 28b.
The rest of the … clerkis of the realme to follow the pryces and styll of the … clerkis of Edinburghattrib. 1573–4 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 76.
23 June, to the provest [etc.] … in Edinburgh … at the convention for the style men lv sh. [1 July, to the provest in Edinburgh] … in defens of the actioun aganis the laird Balwerie

b. The manner of functioning of a court or a process laid down by a court. 1518 Fife Sheriff Ct. 125.
Thai nowthirane grantand nore denyand the samyn nore makand litiscontestacione as the law requiryt eftir the stile of court 1576 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. I 276.
Juges quhilk wald assigne na langer terme than xiiij houris … to qualifie the said peremptour defenssis contrar the comound styill of this court in semblable caussis 1622-6 Bisset I 315/29.
The proceses of perambulation and division … beand baytht eftir ane forme and style quhairof perambulatioun is almoist worne out of use a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 218.
It is the style of all courts never to admmitt ane exception contrair to the lybell

c. A regulation put in place by a local court, esp. the Whitsunday court. 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 2.
The quhilk day my lord folloit in court all the tennandis of Quodquen for the gangin vith thair corn fra his mill the quhilk day thai haif brokin the stilis of my lordis Vitsonday court 1527 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 67.
My lord ordanis and confirmis all stilis & statutis maid be hym in his last Witsonday curt 1530 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 164.
My lord confermes and ordanis all stillis & statudis maid … in the Wetsonday courttis be sir Jhone Somerwell … to be keipit and admitit in this present Wetsonday … Iteme it is styllit and statut that all tennandis & tennandre be redy to the kingis weiris … Secunlie it is statuit [etc.] 1530 Alloway Baron Ct. 10 May.
The stylis off Witsunday statute & ordanit be the alderman bailȝeis counsale & comunite the said day 1532 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I 101.
Gevyng licence to Cristen Mongumry … til browk x s. x d. land in the Weyst Scheyle … als layng as sche lewyis nochtwithstandyng the stylis of our cowrte 1535 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 168. 1536 Alloway Baron Ct. 8 May.
Thai ar chargit … to keepe thair Witsonday stylis vnder the pane of forfalting 1540 Wigtownshire Chart. 69.
With service and dewties as uther tennentis … payis, kepand the stilis of the Witsondayis maid of the auld and the new 1549 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 434.
Togyddyr with seruice in ostijng and vthir generall raidis furneist thairto efter the forme and styill of the schyir and that happin to be maid and taxit of samekill mailyng within the barrony as vse euer hes beyne

2. Writing, a manner or fashion of writing, esp. with reference to literary style. Also pl.(a) c1420 Wynt. v 4328.
He wes curyws in hys style, Fayre off facund, and subtille 1513 Doug. i Prol. 346.
Thoght … Chauser … said That he couth follow word by word Virgill, Wisar than I may faill in lakar stile 1513 Doug. i Prol. 492.
I said thar may be na compar Betwix his versis and my stile wlgar 1513 Doug. vii xi 4.
Ȝe musys now … Reveil the secretis lyand in ȝour myght Addres my stile and steir my pen go rycht 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 21.
The ryall style … Suldbe compilit but thewhes or voyd word 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 31.
That baith accord … The man, the sentens, and the knychtlyke stile 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 239.
Be plesande poetis, in style heroycall a1568 Bannatyne MS 234a/55. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 97.
Ȝe sall persaue the same to be the … fals style of a flattering oratore a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 224/35.
With aureit termis and style most eloquent a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 256/8.
Thingis of great & high affairs in simple style he schawis a1585 Polwart Flyt. 597 (T).
Appardoun me, poettis, to alter my styil, And wissel my wers for fylling the air 1648 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 511.
Other reasons may be added from the levity of the stile and manifest absurdities contained in that paper(b) c1550 Rolland Court of Venus iii 116.
Weill put in vers in gude still and ordour 1602 Misc. Spald. C. II 289.
We heff this day resaued your lordschipis letter, off ane onacquentit styll baith in respect of our luffing dueteis touardis your lordschip and your lordschipis accustumat courteseis touardis ws 1638 Spalding I 100.
In the meintyme I end with hartlie thankis for your lerned panes and pious and peceabill styllpl. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 68.
Noucht thou, Omer, als fair as thou coud wryte, For all thine ornate stilis so perfyte; Nor yit thou Tullius quhois lippis suete Off rethorike did in to termes flete Your aureate tongis both bene all to lyte For to compile that paradise complete

b. Something written, a writing. Also pl. 1596 Dalr. I 33/21.
In lyke maner gif turneng my selfe to the in-cuntrie I speik ony thing of … Perth or of Stratherne and Fife ȝe have the best parte of the realme midway, conforme till our stile [L. nostro stylo], apned vpepl. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxiv 22.
And sen thir clarkis hes writtin in thair stylis To ȝoungar folk and thair successioun, For to eschew the malice and the wylis Off wickit woman, and thair oppressioun

c. To turne one's style, to change to another subject. c1420 Wynt. i 67.
Na prowyde be auctoryte, For-thi fra this I turne my style, Off mankynde for to carpe a quhylle 1535 Stewart 7128.
At this dewys I leif thame heir ane quhile And to the Romanis turne I will my style 1604 Craig i 13.
Since in this poynt th'apodosis is plaine, I turne my stile vnto your Grace againe

3. The condition, manner or circumstances in which something exists, is carried out or occurs, esp. something splendid or powerful, freq. const. to ostend one's style (see Ostend v. 1 (2)), to display one's splendour or power; a particular fashion or type of something. Also proverb.(a) c1450-2 Howlat 658 (A).
The stern empriouris style thus staitly restord is 1535 Stewart 20439.
Tua legatis he hes send … To execute the law in Romane stylis 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1379.
This quene … hir king persuaid to trow all that scho said With mony … wyle Bot ȝit scho was set by hir style be gude counsall he had 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 6770.
Bot will ȝe thoill and suffer ane schort quhile Ȝour caus will cum to ane far better stile And ȝour complaint will haue the better end 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 46.
The thevis tuke pairt with the Scottis, and pat thame [sc. Englishmen] abake, and sua thaj pairtis come to the auld style agane a1605 Montg. Devot. P. iv 46.
Sen thou hes grantit me so good ingyn To loif thé, Lord, in gallant style and gay a1605 Montg. Misc. P. lvii 2.
If ethnik ald by superstitious stylis … Wer stellified to rule the rolling spheirs … Then more praisuorthie pelicans of Shawis(b) a1500 Henr. Robene & M. 57.
Robene, I stand in sic a styll [: quhyle, begyle]; I sicht, and that full sair c1650 Spalding I 357.
The laird of Haddoche perseuit the laird of Cragywar … anent the bischopes styll with ane rod in his hand(c) 1618 Old Kirk Chron. 66.
And ane uther of blak London clothe, or clothe of the steilleproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS p. 126.
Norfolk wyls, Essex styls, Kentish myls

4. A manner of expressing a calculation. b. specif. With reference to (a system of) dating. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1738.
The heycht of this dungeoun Off large pasis of mesure bene Fyue thousande aucht score and fourtene. Be this raknyng it is full rycht Sax mylis and ane half in hycht. Ane thousande pais tak far ane myle, And thow sall fynd it neir that styleb. 1533 Boece 40.
This opinioun war plesand sua the compting and reknyng of the date wald suffir … Bot the variance in this mater is maid be the ald mencioun of authouris as is commonlie vsit in sic caisis. Now lat the stile returne quharefra in vthir materis was runnyng. The ȝere quhen Pichtis come in Albion was eftir the warld begynnyng iiij^m viij^c lxvij 1622 Mar & Kellie MSS Suppl. 144.
We heir that Mr. Porter … did cume to Maderill the 2 of November of their count … We heir that the Beshepe of Spalata whoe was in the end of October efter our stylle [etc.] c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. 18.
8 February 1599, as we now account, or 98 as the style of that tyme did run

5. a. A legal or official designation, an honorific title.(a) c1500 Fyve Bestes 376.
And to thir staitis gaif he weile thair stylis 1535 Stewart 30273.
So grit desyre he had of staitlie stylis, Callit him self the king of all the Ylis a1538 Abell xviiia.
This terme Pharo is nocht ane proper name of ane man. It is ane style of dignitie giffin to the kingis of Egipt for thare autoritie c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4331.
Sanct Peter stylit wes Sanctus, Bot he [sc. the Pope] is callit Sanctissimus. His style at lenth gyf thow wald knaw, Thow moste go luke the Canon law, Boith in the Sext and Clementene, His staitly style thare may be sene 1572 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxviii 19.
Thy style was Treschristien, maist Cristen King 1592 Reg. Morton I 181.
To purchase the style of sum kirk leving 1652 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 73.
The name or style of King 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 19.
To which squire, the bounteous knight Promised … Guernsey or Jersey … With a Lord Governours style(b) 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 113.
Thar is na stait of thar stile that standis content Knycht, clerk nor common Burges nor barroun All wald haue vp that is dovn 1533 Boece 553.
He bannyst xij doctouris of theologie … quhilk how beit thai … war nocht notabill be greis nor stilis that thai war na les cunnyng 1533 Bell. Livy II 81/2.
He tuke litil fere how beit he war honorit with wrangwis stile and tharefore wrate him self consul a1561 Norvell Meroure 14a.
This lambe, ware on his head one diademe, Where was writtin, thre stiles singulair 1571 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 210.
That he quha sall haue the stile … of abbot … be well learnit 1577 A. Hay Nobility 54.
E Bodwell, L. Admirall of Scotland, great Master of the Horse [etc.] … his lands lie aunswerable to his stiles a1586 Lindsay MS 16.
To keip and exerce the said office … quhatsumeuir rycht vsage stiles or priuelegis perten thairto 1596 Dalr. I 37/12.
The toune of Couper … quhair juges he quha is juge, and schireffe of the cuntrey to his stile hes 1598 Melvill Propine 45.
In the second [commandment]: To worship and serue Him, by the meanes He hes appoynted; namely, his stiles, word, sacraments [etc.] 1611 Reg. Panmure I xcvi.
The Thane and Thierne, quhilk is the maist ancient tytil and stile of Scotland 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 112.
So also is Lord Lyon grauely lorded, Who more for worth than stile is here recorded 1672 Acts VIII 124/1.
[Giving them both] the name of Lyon Herauld King of Armes togidder with the stile, title … jurisdiction & casualities pertaining … to the said office(c) c1615 Chron. Kings 158.
Huntly and Hammiltoune war maid marqueissis quhilk wes ane new styill in this kingdome(d) 1494 Loutfut MS 7b.
Als weil the ta party as the tothir quhatsumeuir rycht wsage stilles or priuileges pertenand thairto 1513 Doug. Comm. i vi 125.
That Eneas heyr commendis his self, it is not to be tayn that he said this for arrogans bot forto schaw his styll, as a kyng or prince onknawin in an onkowth land may … rehers his estate and dygnite 1599 Analecta Scotica I 105.
Fra the quhilk he may tak his styll of knychtship for he is to be maid knycht on Sonday nixt cummis c1615 Chron. Kings 150.
Gaiff him the styll off Prince of Wallis, and maid him Knycht of the Oirdour of the Garter 1676 Peebles B. Rec. II 92.
The counsell … fynes George Forbes in thrie pounds for usurping the styll of a burges of this burgh, he not being so

b. A designation more generally, describing what a person is with regard to status, occupation, etc.There may be overlap with a above. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 157/215.
The Devill … thame of knychtheid cold depryve … And maid thame harlottis bayth for evir, Quhilk still to keip thay had fer levir, Nor ony armes beir c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 166/41.
Als lang as I did beir the freiris style a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 282.
Wallace gart cry ane counsale … And callit Corspatrick tratour be his style 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3135.
Quhairfoir of tailȝeours beiris thou the styl? … I can mak baith doublit coat and hois 1630 Rutherford Christ & Doves 3.
In the 14 verse there is … a stile given to the Kirk … He calls her His dove … His love … yet He is not flattering her. If ye be Christs, He will give you all your stiles of honour a1652 Dickson Psalms III 242.
The Lord is keeper and watchman over His church, … and this is His stile and memorial in all ages a1658 Durham Commandments (1675) 200.
The titles and dedications of books, where the most religious, pious, etc., are often unwarrantably put among the styles 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 73.
The greatest style that ony man in the earth gets in the ministrie of the word and sacramentes, is … stewardes and dispensers of the graces of God 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 80/10.
Thinking it ane of youre fairest styles to be calld a louing noorishe father to the kirke c1614 Mure Dido & Æneas i 365.
(Sweit lady), if a stile so lowe Beseeme thy state 1629 Mure True Crucifixe 3197.
His vicar, him at least who steales this stile, But from his life and doctrine doth resile

c. An extension of a above, where reference is made in particular to a name, freq. a place-name, attached to a person or family; ? passing into a reference to the place itself.(1) c1515 Asloan MS I 308/5.
The castell Pallentyne … of quhilk Cownt Palentyne takis his stile ?a1500 Steel Roy Robert 30.
Henrie of Longcastell … Duik of that ilk thow suld be cald It is thy richtest style of auld 1513 Doug. xii xiii 85.
Lat the kyngis be namyt … Pryncis and faderis of the stile Albane 1513 Doug. xii xiii 105.
Thir ilk pepill clepit Ausonyanys … The auld vsans … Sall bruke and ioys, and eik thar name salbe As it is now, and as thar stile remanys 1535 Stewart 28714.
Brenyus the lord of Mona Yle, Into his tyme that wes his richtast style a1586 Kamington in a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 40.
It is fyue hundreth sax and fiftie ȝeir Since they receauit thair surname and thair style 1588 Events Q. Mary & Jas. VI 50.
Ane … callit Jhon Keith, I remember nocht his styill a1605 Birrel Diary 45.
Hes styll, the Duck of Holsten 16.. Hist. Kennedy 2.
Ane fair castell, quhilk the scheiff of the law-land Kennedyis tuik thair styill of c1641-54 J. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 554.
The castell of Ormond, which hath gevin styles to sundrie earls and last to the Princes of Scotland 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway App. 171.
Or show who was the first that had the possession and stile of Gairlies 1671–2 Lauder Jrnl. 208.
My Lord Madertie's stile is truly Mater Dei, from some cloyster so named a1670 Scot Staggering State 69.
He was first made earl of Melross, and then changed his stile to Haddington 1671 Lauder Jrnl. 216.
Stile 1690 Shields Grievances and Sufferings 4.
Many other gentlemen … were arbitrarly … fined; some under divers stiles twice over 16… R. Gordon in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 401.
All things proceeded in forme of petitions, the subjects called in thair styl the lieges petitioned the Prince(2) 1582 Misc. Spald. C. II 338.
Causing thame to intromett with my principall styll and leuing of Erroll vpoun the quhilkis thei mak thair present chargeis

d. Applied to a nickname or similar appellation. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace ix 87.
The Rede Reffayr thai call him in his still 1562-3 Winȝet I 56/26.
Johne Knox … attributis to me a new style, calling me Procutour for the Papistis 1684 Symson Descr. Galloway 16.
The Borderers from Annandale and places thereabout, (the stile the countrey calls them by, is Johnnies)

e. Applied to things. 1573 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxix 170.
The Madene Castell it wes callit lang, With honour ay that nobill style it buir 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 119.
High and excellent stiles given to the riches of that mercie 1596 Dalr. I 48/20.
The vulgar and commone stile of this montane is Dunedere