A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1500, 1605-1673
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Unfamous, adj. Also: wnfamous. [ME and e.m.E. unfamous (Wyclif); Famous adj.] = Infamous adj.
1. Of persons: Infamous, notorious.a1500 Rois Garlandis 176.
The quhilk hang apoun the croce betuix twa vnfamous thevis 1605 Reg. Privy C. VII 89.
It cannot stand with his hienes honour … that sic a unfamous byke of lawles lymmaris salbe sufferit 1623 Rec. Old Aberd. II 2.
She wes … put of the toun as ane vnfamous person 1666 Cromartie Corr. I 16.
Ane wnfamous man to whom no credit should be gevin
b. specif. In quasi-legal contexts, of persons barred from holding office, or from practising a craft, on account of their ill repute.1605 Glasgow Chart. I i dcxi.
Concernyng the wnfamous and deboischit persones not worthie of the benefeit of ane gild brother … [such] persones sall be buikit in the deane of gildis buik as wnfamous and wnworthie 1673 Edinb. B. Rec. X 141.
It is not in the powar of the toun councell to declare persons unfamous and uncapable of magistracie wher the lawes of the kingdome hes not irrogat the same
2. Of things: Disgraceful, highly reprehensible.a1634 Forbes Rec. 517.
Thir restles and unquyet ministers … corrupt the hearts and opinions of our good subjects … a matter unseimlie … and carryeing with it ane very unfamous sclander to the Kirk a1651 Calderwood (1678) 337.
To compear and answer for certain unreverent, unfamous and undecent speeches 1665 Dundee B. Laws 528.
For wnfamous dealing to the deykone and the wholl crawft
