Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Incal(l, v. Also: in-call. P.p. incallit, etc., incalling. [Cf. ME. incalle, -cal, -kall (a 1340–c 1400).]

1. tr. To call upon, invoke (God, a deity, a saint, etc.).(1) 1499 Echt-Forbes Chart. 85.
We [the inquest] … hawand God befor e … , his haly nayme incallit, … deliueris [etc.] c1515 Asl. MS. I. 301/5.
Seth … procreat Enos, the first that incallit the name of God 1533 Boece i. iv. 39 b.
To euery clan was the name of thare capitane in sic reuerence, … thai … suld incall the samyn as ane thing quhilk was haly Ib. ii. xi. 79 b.
Thare wyiffis … incallit the sempiternall goddis revengearis of tresoun 1553 Knox III. 360.
Him wha can not dissave sic as incallis his name 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 58.
The name of Christe Jesus … being incalled 1613 Strathbogie Presb. 234.
God's name being incalled, the speiker removed and his doctrine sifted [etc.](2) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 301.
Dreid God and his grace ay incall For to preserf thi innocence Ib. 425.
Herfor my God with meiknes I incall, Grant me thi grace 1525 Misc. Bann. C. III. 107.
My saule … in quhaiis protectione … I incal the blyssit Virgen Mare 1533 Boece v. i. 164.
Nobill Gald, … we incall thi beryit corps … to be propiciant to ws 1562-3 Winȝet I. 124/1.
Gif we may incall the sanctis to pray for ws but idolatrie? 1627 Fam. Innes 215.
I incall God to witnes [etc.]

b. absol. To invoke God. 1619 Garden Elphinstone 290.
For ordinar he us'd First to incall, than read, Then pray

2. a. To invoke, pray for, call down, on a person. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 115/13.
The prophet incallis the wrayth of God on thame quha says [etc.]

b. To call for, implore (something, from a person). 1533 Boece ii. xii. 84 b.
Athir barne in armes of thar foster faderis, aganis the … bouchrie of tormentouris in vane incalling thare helpe, … was slane

3. intr. a. To call upon, on (God, saints, etc.). b. To call or pray for something, or that something be done.a. 1558-66 Knox I. 162.
That sanctis should not be honored nor incalled upone 1570 Bann. Memor. 60.
Desyring yow all to incall earnestly vpoun God to continow his … grace with me to the end 1588 King Cat. 20 b.
To al thame quha vnfeignedlie sal incal on thé 1617 Logie Par. Hist. I. 85.
Efter the said reverend father had incallit on the name of God 1640 S. Leith Kirk S. 34.
Having incallit upon the name of Godb. 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 69.
He man bow down and earnestly incall for the Spirit Ib. 202.
The Prophete incalled, that the sun should be brought bak

4. tr. a. To call or summon back into court (one who had been removed from the court while his case was deliberated). 1452 Melville Chart. 36.
Than the saide Scher Andro removit out of curt, the curt avisit … ; the saide Scher Andro in-callit, … the forsaide decret wes delayit 1559 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 56.
The saidis dekynnis being furthe of courte removit, and incallit agane 1672 Inverness Presb. 19.
The minister being incalled, the elders report of him was declared unto him

b. To invite or ‘call’ to a ministerial charge. 1600-1610 Melvill 254.
I was then apointed … to teatche at Anstruther everie Sabothe, and was in-calling to that ministerie

5. fig. To call to mind, recall, recollect. 1590 Burel Pilgr. ii. xxxi.
In cace men … wald in mynd incall The saying Salamonicall Concerning sic a cace