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: 1420, 1500-1607, 1683-1700+
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Volatil(e, -till, n. Also: wolatile, volateill. [ME and e.m.E. volatil (Cursor M.), volatile (Wyclif), OF volatil(e, L. volātilis.]
1. Birds collectively, poultry, wildfowl.c1420 Wynt. viii 6370.
A gret pestilens … Fell on kokis and hennys … That men dowtyd … For till ete swilk volatile [C. wolatile, W. volatill] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1422.
To noy the small the greit beistis had na will, Nor rauenous foulis the lytill volatill c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxii 4.
My bullis and my volatilis [P. volatilis] ar slanne, and all thingis ar reddy; cum ye to the weddingis 15.. Clariodus v 2244.
The agill in the air at will Devoris the terrestriall volateill, And dantis the etheriall birdis small 1572 Sempill in Sat. P. xxxviii 36.
The fals fowler … Deuoiris the pure volatill he wylis to the net 1587-99 Hume 22/183.
The … dentie volatill 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 673.
For destructioun of policie, reptill, or volatill
2. Volatile salts, ammonia.1683 Reid Sc. Gard'ner (1756) 80.
Being far from the sun they have little volatile 1736 Acc. Laird of Goind 2 May.
Volatile drops 4 s.
