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.
Vulgar(e, -air(e, adj. (n.). Also: wulgar(e, -air, -ure, vlgare, wlga(i)r, (vulgarie), volgar, -er. [ME and e.m.E. vulgar(e (both Chaucer), OF vulgaire, L. vulgāris.]
A. adj. 1. a. Of people or their attributes: Common, not noble or of gentle birth.(a) 1513 Doug. xii v 4.
Juturna … saw the common wlgar hartis wave In diuers sentencis and ententis seir Than in amyd the rowtis drew scho neir 1533 Boece 63b.
Ȝit in thir oure dayis ar sene thir roundis of stanys and ar callit the ald templis of goddis be the vulgare pepill a1538 Abell 42a.
The wulgair pepill chesit him for thare king a1538 Abell 105b.
In Ingland Johne Stro a wulgair man segit Lundon 1535 Stewart 40905.
This Williame Bastard … Ressauit hes of all Ingland the croun; And all the lordis also … quhilk war of Inglis blude, Dishereist hes … The vulgar pepill leit thame leif als fre, … With thair awin law, langage, and all the laif 1549 Compl. 16/17 (see 2 a (1) below). 1549 Compl. 82/11.
To persuaid the vulgar ingnorans til adhere til inuentit fablis c1590 Fowler I 87/45.
So long as thow with vulgar folk will hould Whose iudgement is ay wauering and to thair will inthrauld [etc.] … To noble spreittis and gentle myndis [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 168/15.
Thay causet to put doune mony baith of the nobilitie and of the vulgar people 1596 Dalr. II 259/25.
The sentence nochttheles was commone amang the vulgar and commoune peple, that the king suner diet throuch meddicine, than otherwyse he wald haue done ?a1657 Balfour Her. Tracts 14.
And altho the mother be of the wulgar sorte, the father being noble [etc.] 1658 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII 30.
My judgment is of him that he is a good plaine teacher, and might be usfull for the uulgare [pr. uulgars] sort of our parish(b) 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 37.
Ther are many things fabulouslie reported of this Paul Macktire among the wulgure people
b. Of, chiefly non-material, things: Of, deriving from, as used by, known or familiar to or on the level of the common people; commonplace; ordinary.1456 Hay I 257/34.
The law canoune biddis us lyve be the ordynaunce … of haly kirk … But oure haly fader and his lawis reprufis and condampnis all purgacioun vulgare, that is to say be fyre or watere or blude 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 2154.
Maist gracious prince, our souerane … Ressaue this roustie rurall rebaldrie … Quhilk in the sicht of thy magnificence … Proponis thus my vulgair ignorance 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 181/1, 2.
It is mair decent … that the peple haif the profund misteriis of oure religioun in admiratioun, nor that thai suld be commwne and vulgare, becaus the peple oft tymes contempnis that thing quhilk is maist commwne and vulgare to thame 1588 King Cat. Sig. i iij.
For seing the præcise reconing of his [sc. the sun's] … trew motion do varie euery ȝere: nather do serwe swamekill for the vulgare vse of ane common kallendar as for the exact obseruationes of astronomie 1588 King Cat. Sig. l viii.
Vther vses … becaus thay ar nocht vulgare nor facile to be practised without the knawlege of astronomie 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 137/4.
Make ane of thame [sc. virtues] quhilke is temperance quene of all the rest uithin you, I meane not by the uulgaire interpretation of temperance, quhilke onlie standis in the moderate using of meate & drink, but [etc.] 1611 Crim. Trials III 157 (see Report n. 1.)
Knawing … that efter your lordschip hard the vulgar report of the conuictioun … of the lairdis of Auchindrane … for the mourthour (etc.)
c. ? Common, unrefined, vulgar.1658 R. Moray Lett. 157.
I have litle to do that tells you so knottlesse and vulgar tales
2. Modifying toung, speche, language or leid: Vernacular. a. As applied to the Scots language (in contradistinction to Latin). Const. possess. adj., without art. and with def. art. b. In collocation with Inglis or Scottis: English or Scots, the vernacular Germanic languages of England or Scotland. c. Referring to a language other than Scots or English.a. (1) 1492 Myll Spect. 297/6.
This lytle buk … translatit out of Latyn in to our wulgar and maternall toung 1499 Devot. Pieces xxvii.
I purpose to alledge no sentence in the same in our vulgare speche … all though oure grosse natyue langage … can not agree in all poyntes with the perfeccyon of Latyn 1513 Doug. xiii Prol. 105.
Translait of new, thai may be red and song Our Albyon ile into ȝour wlgar leid 1513 Doug. Exclam. 9.
Sen Virgyll beys wyd quhar in Latyn song, Thus be my laubour red in owr wlgar tong 1527 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 155.
[To] caus the said letter for men of na litteratour be schavin exponit and interpret in comone langag and wlgar of the said realme of Scotland 1531 Vaus (1531) 2.
Ane nowne substantiue … ane part of orison to quhais significatione in my vulgare langage i may ioyne this word ane 1545 Reg. Episc. Glasg. II 559.60.
That the halie write may be usit in our vulgar tongue 1549 Compl. 16/19.
I exort al philosophouris [etc.] … of our Scottis natione to support & til excuse my barbir agrest termis: for I thocht it nocht necessair til hef fardit ande lardit this tracteit vitht exquisite termis quhilkis ar nocht daly vsit bot rather I hef vsit domestic Scottis langage maist intelligibil for the vlgare pepil. Ther hes bene diuerse translatours and compilaris in ald tymys that tuke grite pleseir to contrafait ther vlgare langage mixand ther purposis vitht oncoutht exquisite termis … reuyn fra Lating 1558–9 Statut. Sc. Ch. 158.
That the common prayers with litanies in our vulgar toung be said in evry peroch kirk 1596 Dalr. II 23/2.
The kings maistirhoushald, quhom, conforme to our vulgar language, we cal Stuart(b) 1562 Cal. Sc. P. I 692.
Volgar(c) 1579 Sc. Ch. Hist. Soc. Rec. IX 99.
Almaist in every private house the buike of God's law is red and understand in our vulgarie language(2) 1531 Bell. Boece II 285.
Turgot … wrait the livis of Sanct Margaret and Malcolme, in vulgare langage 1542 Acts II 425/1.
It is oure will … that ȝe gar proclame … the act maid for having of the new testement in [Inglis crossed out] wulgare toung c1552 Lynd. Mon. 540.
Gentyl redar, haif at me non dispyte, Thynkand that I presumptuously pretend, In vulgair toung, so heych mater to writ 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 75.
To the quhilk succedit his sone Thwruydermus Cleuar capitale, callit in wlgar langage Thurwydin Huffa Cleuar 1560 Rolland Seven S. Prol. 20.
Dauid Lyndsay In vulgar toung … To mak meter richt cunning and expart; … And … Williame Stewart To mak in Scottis richt weill he knew that art 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 3.
The iugement of the maist ancient writaris in medicine expressit in vulgar langage 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 17.
I am constrynit … to use the prescriptioun of sum medicinis in Latine, quhilkis can not guidlie be put in vulgare langage 1579 Acts III 139/1.
That all gentilmen houshaldaris … and all substantious ȝemen or burgesis … be haldin to haue a bible and psalme buke in vulgare language in thair housis 1582 Crail B. Ct. 29 May.
Mr. Jhone is … prowydit maister to the grammer skuill … to … instruk the ȝowth and bairnes … nocht onlie in grammer bot also in vulgar language and wretyng and readyng of the samin(3) 1542–3 Acts II 415/2.
It salbe lefull … to haif the haly write baith the new testament and the auld in the vulgar toung c1575 Balfour Pract. 655.
That the summoundis, haill processes and sentences, be in the vulgar tongue 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 126/10.
Quhy say thay not thair messis in the vulgar tounge that the simpil pepill quha vnderstandis not Latine may be edifeit thairbie a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1677) 119.
The vulgar language(b) 1570 Leslie 270.
The prelattis wald not agre that any prayers war used publicklie in the volgar toungeb. 1576 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 282.
The samin bibillis in the vulgare Inglis toung 1616 Strong Sc. Second. Educ. 106.
That the vulgar Inglishe toung be universallie plantit, and the Irishe language … be abolisheit 1622-6 Bisset I 88/21.
The first erectioun, and institutioun, of the college of justice … faithfullie translated out of Lating … into vulgare Scottis langaige 1622-6 Bisset II 57/23.
The summonis haill procese and sentence to be in Scottis vulgare tung 1668 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I 178.
To educat … the childrein … in the Scottisch vulgar and Latine toungc. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 560.
He wrait the law … In thare awin vulgare language of Hebrew c1552 Lynd. Mon. 668.
The propheit Dauid … Compyld the plesand psalmes of the psaltair In his awin propir toung … And Salamone, … air, Did mak his buke in tyll his toung vulgare. Quhy suld nocht thare sayng be tyll ws schawin In our language? 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 129/20.
That the Galatianis had thair auin vulgar toung 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 113/13.
Alluring Orpheus uith his songis he … doth enchaunt The Musis nyne to leaue thaire leidis that thay before did haunt & takke thaime to his uulgaire tounge
3. a. Of or pertaining to, written in or translated into, a vernacular language in contradistinction to Latin. b. specif. Of words, sayings, etc.: Deriving from the common people or = a above.a. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 286.
I … forbiddis euery wight That can nocht spell thar Pater Noster rycht Fortill correct or ȝit amend Virgill, Or the translatar blame in hys wlgar stile 1513 Doug. ix Prol. 96.
The mar glaidly I sal enfors my stile, And for hys saik do scharp my pen all new, My maste renownyt author to ensew, That thar salbe, wyll God, litill offens, Salvand owr bustuus wlgar differens 1513 Doug. Exclam. 37.
Go, wlgar Virgill, to euery churlych wight … Say … thou art translatit rycht 1531 Vaus (1531) 4.
Nownis … quhays descriptionis ar in our vulgare informatione 1531 Bell. Boece I cv.
Fra flowand Latine into vulgar prose 1531 Bell. Boece I 163.
This history, in sa far as we have schawin of Caratak, Corbreid and Galdus, kingis of Scottis, is drawin, sum part fra vulgar croniklis, sum part fra Cornelius Tacitus a1538 Abell 49b.
Sanct Cholumb (or eftir our wulgair naym to Sanct Come) 1624 Huntar Weights & Measures To Reader.
I have set downe here (gentle reader) in vulgar tearmes for the benefite of all a necessarie treatiseb. 1531 Bell. Boece II 83.
The vulgare fabillis … hes violat thair fame, and makis thaim to have the les credence 1549 Compl. 7/30.
Fra this exempil cummis ane vlgare adagia 1686 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXII 186.
The saids haill meadowis to goe about yeirlie according to the said division, according to the vulgar country terme called meadow skift
4. Vulgar schole, an elementary school teaching reading and writing in Scots or English rather than Latin. = Lecto(u)r-schole n. Also, vulgar schoolmaster.(1) 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. V 30.
Reponet … Robert Burale to his office of teacheing ane vulgar schole 1594 Edinb. B. Rec. V 123.
Upoun the tryell had be the sessioun of the kirk of the sufficiencie of Henry Bryntoun thai admitt him [gap] to teache ane lecter schole [gap] he beand astrictet to reid in the eist kirk upoun the Sondayes afternone as uther of the vulgare scholes are astrictet 1614 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 115.
The bayrnis of the Latyne and vulgare scholes 1622 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 236.
James Hammiltoun … to be … teacher of ane vulgar scoole in this burgh 1637 Edinb. Marr. 460.
Patrick Macver, doctor in a vulgar school 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 236.
The priviledge of keepeing a vulgar and musick scooll within this citie(2) 1634 Edinb. Marr. 34.
John Arthur, vulgar schoolmaster 1654 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 342.
The counsell … discharges any vulgar schoolmaster to teache Latine
5. Vulgar … arithmetic, ordinary arithmetic as opposed to decimal.1696 Edinb. B. Rec. XII 188.
Teaching of navigation … vulgar and decimall arithmetick and other arts
B. absol. as noun. 1. The language of the people of a country, the vernacular language.1390–1 Acts I 216/2.]
[Thomas de Erskyne miles … dixit in vulgari … 'My lorde the Kyng [etc.]' 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 920.
Ȝit saw I thair … Geffray Chauceir, as a per se sans peir In his wulgare [L. vulgare] 1513 Doug. i Prol. 43.
Ȝit with thy leif, Virgile, to follow thé, I wald, into my rurall wlgar gros, Wryte sum savoryng of thyne Eneados a1538 Abell 82b.
A buke quhilk in wlgair ȝit in Scotland … is callit the ordur buke 1626 Moray Synod 18.
James Lyll, presently provydit to the said kirks … hes nothing of the Irishe language quhilk is thair vulgar
2. The common, ordinary people. b. A popular belief.1549 Compl. 142/32.
Thai ar repute be the vulgaris to be discendit of sic genoligie 1549 Compl. 61/16.
The nyxt cardinal vynd … the vulgaris callis estin vynd a1568 Weddirburne in Bann. MS 287b/14.
Quhill wulgaris haldis of sa grit estimatioun c1590 Fowler I 64/177.
He … whome vulgar dois adore Wald than triumphe in chariot bright as victor full of glore 1596 Dalr. I 59 marg.
The vulgar with thir names distinguises thame. The quinck, skilling, claik [etc.] 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 6/18.
Surelie, the difference vulgare put betwixt them [sc. necromancy and witchcraft] is verrie merrie, and in a maner true a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 94.
A comet of that kind, which … the vulgars [call] a firie bissome 1657 Misc. Hist. Soc. VII 18.
The larde of Sudus distracted; rent all his cloths to the admiration of the uulgars(b.) 1566 Lanark B. Rec. 33.
Scho hard Besse Tuodall call the minister commoun theiff quhay wald stoip thair barnis fra the plaj for him for hie trouit that the volger wald gef him ane fie bot devill haif it all that hie suld getb. a1538 Abell 47a.
It is said in ane wulgair at ane woman at twichis hir graif sall remaine barrat
