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: 1501-1605
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Urs(e, Wrs, Ours, n. [L. ursa, ursus. Cf. ME and e.m.E. vrsa (Chaucer).]
1. pl. The Great and Little Bear constellations. b. Urs Major, Ursa Major, the Great Bear. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1844.
The pole artick and eik the vrsis twane 1513 Doug. i xi 102.
The dowbill vrsys weil couth he decern 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 67 (Sm.).
I se the poill, and eik the Ursis brycht 1531 Bell. Boece I v.
Abone our heid wes the ursis twane c1552 Lynd. Mon. 165.
The pole artick, wrsis, and sterris all a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xlviii 72.
Nou wald we sie the vrses and pole Arti[c]b. 1535 Stewart 2986.
The eleuatioun of the poll … Of Vrs Major and mony vther ma
2. A bear. c1590 J. Stewart 47/155.
As the ours, the sangleir, or the boir, Bald at the bay he stuid amyds the rout 1600 Colville Palinode 7.
As the wounded vrse or wyldegoat … doth with his filthie fome … infect all other hearbes
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"Urs n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/urse>
