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.
(Unsele,) Unsell, n. Also: wnsele, unseill, -sale. [ME unsele (c1200), unsel (Layamon), OE unsǽl, ON úsæla; Sele n.1]
1. Misfortune; undoing.1375 Barb. x 220.
Sum … within the pele War ischyt on thar awne wnsele [C. vnseill] To wyn thar herwyst 1375 Barb. (1571) xvii 376.
And thame abone defendand weill Tombland thame doun to thair unseill Arundel MS 262/23.
Tua theifis I was hangit betuen … This mekill vnseill thou seis me feill
2. Wretch; villain. Cf. Katy unsell n., Kittie unsell n. (a girl or woman of bad character).Quot. Polwart may belong in Unsele adj. 1.1540 Lynd. Sat. 963 (B).
Swyth, pas thé hence, vnhappy vnsale [Ch. vnsell] a1605 Montg. Flyt. 276 (T).
Thair ane elph, and ane aip, ane vnsell begate a1585 Polwart Flyt. 622 (T).
He was ane fals schismatik notor[ious]lie namit; Baith hurdome & homeceid vnsell he vsit
