A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Colour, Color, v. Also: coloure, collor. [ME. coloure, colore (14th c.), OF. colourer, colorer, L. colōrāre. See also Cullour v.]
1. tr. To imbue with colour.1456 Hay I. 283/30.
The lift is nocht colourit Ib. II. 119/34.
With hevy suollyn eyne … , and unkyndely colourit 1533 Boece ix. i. 288 b.
The cawsay … was all colorit bludy and rede
2. fig. To represent under a specious or false aspect; to disguise.a1500 Bk. Chess 307.
Bot pacientlie he colorit all the caise 1489 Lennox Mun. 128.
It is masterfully colourit and mantenit be the parcial 1 persons vnderwritin 1533 Boece ii. xii. 84.
The king to coloure his fraude … kissit thame tendirlie 1558 Q. Kennedy Tract. 110.
To colour thair wickit opinionis be allegeance of Scripturis thrawin efter thair maner a1578 Pitsc. II. 16/23.
He rewit the promisse maid … and wald faine haue had that matter collorit gif he could
3. To disguise the real ownership of (goods), passing them off as one's own.1507 Reg. Privy S. I. 228/1.
That nane … tak apon hand to by and regrate … wittallis, … or to colour the sammyn in hurting of our lieges 1508 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 113.
That na fremen … consele nor colour vnder the colour of his awin ony vnfremenis guidis 1525 Ib. 221.
The … counsall ordanis William Andersoun till compeir befoir thame … for coloring of vnfremenis guidis 1570 Conv. Burghs I. 20.
That na man colour the gudis of vnfremen vnder coulour of his awin
