A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Vip(e)ro(u)s, adj. [e.m.E. vyperouse (1538), vyperos (1542), viperouse (1555), viperous (1591); Viper n.] a. Pertaining to a viper. Only fig. b. Of a quality, utterance, etc.: Venemous, spiteful, treacherous. c. fig. Of a person: Having the qualities of a viper.a. 1535 Stewart 1062.
The belleall Britis … With viperos vennum and odious invie, With greit dissait assalit hes ane cast To brek that band [sc. between the Picts and the Scots] 1535 Stewart 24422.
With vipros vennum inwart in his mynd … Dissaitfullie that tyme he gart him trow, That he wrocht ay for his plesour and prowb. 1535 Stewart 673.
The perelus poysoun, mortiferus melancolie. That horribill edder with vipros invie … In that distres hes done him for to de 1632 Lithgow Trav. i 3.
The viperous murmurings of miscreant villaines 1640 Maidment Balfour Ballads 18.
I hope Ballanquall, and curs'd Corbets all, With others who did vent such viperous gall, Against our nation in their viperous spite, Shall curse the time when first they learn'd to writec. a1561 Norvell Meroure 11b.
He turned him derect, And said to sinne, thou viperous beast infect, Bred in the poole, most pestilentious 1640 Maidment Balfour Ballads 17.
No nation reap'd such gaine As Scotland, by the fall of that curs'd traine [sc. bishops], … Whose hellish plots, and most malicious minde, Point out their viperous brood, and monstruous kinde 1690 Shields Grievances and Sufferings 39.
We are represented by the viperous curates, and other malignants … as Antipods to all mankind
