A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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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: 1562-1691
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Symbol, n. Also: -boll, -bole, -ball, simboll, -bole. [L. symbol- a sign, mark, token, symbol, f. the Gk., also F. symbole (c1380 and 1552 in Larousse), in senses 1 and 2 below respectively.]
1. An authoritative statement of the tenets of Christianity; a creed or confession of faith.1588 King Catechism 3.
The somme off our faith is contenit in that, quhilk the twoll apostlis compylit togidder, and delyuerit to ws in thair symboll, callit the creid 1562-92 Wode's Psalter (Tenor) 116.
The simboll or creide of Anathasius
2. Some thing, action, etc. which stands for or represents something else, esp. a material object which represents an abstract principle.1629 Justiciary Cases I 110.
Salt … is ane simbole of eternitie and thairfoir abhorret be witches 1649 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 571.
So handsomelie, I say, could these hipocrits make it the simbole of warre and bloody broyles 1678 Mackenzie Laws & C. ii xv (1699) 214.
The mace used by these [sc. macers] with us in the Justice court is an iron rod which was the symbol of power as appears by the ninth verse of the second psalm 1687 Lauder Notices Affairs II 783.
His breaking the wand of peace is the only symboll requisit to be libelled 1690 Dunkeld Presb. II 97 n.
By delyvering to him [sc. the schoolmaster] of ane book called the Gramer, with the tawes and kie of the school-doar, as the ordiner symbolls of possessione in the lyke caice 1681 Stair Inst. ii i § 15.
Civil possession is by a token or symbol, which is no part of the thing to be possest, but is a token only to represent it 1681 Stair Inst. ii iii § 17.
Delivery of any other accustomed symbol, as a penny for an annualrent, a net for fishing, a clap for a mill 1691 Farther Vindic. 13.
Partaking of the symbols of His broken body and shed blood
3. A letter of the alphabet, as representing a particular speech-sound.c1616 Hume Orthog. 7.
We, as almaest al Europ, borrow our symboles from the Romanes c1616 Hume Orthog. 7.
The symbol, then, I cal the written letter, quhilk representes to the eie the sound that the mouth sould utter c1616 Hume Orthog. 13.
For distinctiones of both sound and symbol, I wald command the symbol and name of i and u to the voual sound c1616 Hume Orthog. 18.
