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: 1490, 1700+
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Vacuum, Wacuum, n. [e.m.E. vacuum (1550), emptiness, (1589) an empty space, F. vacuum, L. vacuum, vacant property, something worthless.] a. Something vain or valueless. b. An empty space. —a. 1490 Irland Mir. II 119/25.
Geve his werkis … war of na effec to be rewardit or punyst the laif of the creaturis vnder the man … war producit in wane and thus in the waurld war wacuum —b. 1731 Stirling B. Rec. II 220.
To cause build a loft in that vacuum betwixt the merchants and maltmens lofts in the west church
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"Vacuum n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/vacuum>
