A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1438, 1499-1644
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Faill, Fale, n.1 Also: fayle, faile, fail, feale. [ME. fayle, faile (c 1300), OF. faile, faille. Cf. Failȝe n. ME and e.m.E. sauntz fayle (c1325), sanzfaile (c1380), sauns faille (c1384), etc., saunz faile (c1530), OF sans faille (11th c. in Tobler-Lommatzsch).]
1. A failure, esp. to do right; a fault, either of omission or commission.(a) 1547–8 Treasurer's Accounts IX. 145.
To ane fallo … that wes takin as ane spye … , in quhome wes founde na faill 1557 Ayr Charters 44.
To hald … ane court … upone sic faillis and complantis as sal happin to be committit in the saidis faris 1572 Bann. Memor. 277.
What faill salbe fundin, seveir correctione to follow thervpoun 1604 Criminal Trials II. 436.
The quhilk I wald fufill, but ony kynd of faill 1639 Baillie I. 196.
Leist this faill should incourage our foes 1644 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 17.
Vnder the pain of ane hundreth punds money in caise of faille(b) 1545 Douglas Corr. 157.
Ȝe vald not alage no falis in me 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 52.
To cause the forsaid falis to be forborn a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xiv. 13.
Haue nocht to do with vther mennis falis 1578 St. A. Kirk S. 434.
Gyf he comperis not … , the feal to be haldin as confessed
2. But, foroutin, withoutin, sans faill, without fail, assuredly.(a) 1375 Barb. xii. 274.
In-till ȝour handis, for-outen faill, ȝe ber honour c1420 Wynt. viii. 3836.
Gyve thai be a certane day Ware noucht rescwyde wyth batayle, Thai suld gyve wp the town but fayle a1500 Bk. Chess 93.
The fyndar of this ches sport but faile Was a philosophour orientale 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 911.
Pomponius quhais fame of lait sans faill [: Laurence of the vale; L. fale] Is blawin wide 1513 Doug. i Prol. 67.
Of thé writis Macrobius sans faill [: Saturnaill; v.rr. fail] 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 118.
Amang Latynys a gret patron sans faiil1513 Doug. i. vi. 62.
Sans faill 1513 Doug. iii. x. 60.
For owtyn fail, Bakwartis … on Ciclopes mon we saill a1568 Scott x. 29.
Scho wait withouttin faill I am hir luwar laill 1585 James VI Ess. 72.
With what wisedome are they wrought, but faile(b) a1400 Legends of the Saints xxvii. 1262.
The cause of this trawall That we haf tane on hand, but fale, Is [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii. 1201.
And [= if] we tyne ocht, withoutin fale, It is tynt thing for euer mair a1500 Prestis of Peblis 169.
Thir burges … Had ordanit a wysman & a trewe The questioun to reid foroutin fale 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 8517.
Thair was twa rauins … That had clekkit the thrid withouttin fale a1568 Scott i. 212.
Quhllkis … leale, but feale, may haell avaell thy Grace
