A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Penult, a. (n.) Also: penn-, pan- and -ulte, -ault, -elt, -uld. [Shortened form, ? orig. a written abbreviation, of Penultima. Appar. only Sc. till 1597.]
1. Last but one, penultimate.Chiefly in reference to the second last day of a month.(1) 1490 Acta Conc. I. 155/2, etc.
The penult day of October now instant 1494 Acta Aud. 191/1. 1501 Treas. Acc. II. 41, etc. 1515 Reg. Privy S. I. 407/1, etc. c1515 Asl. MS. I. 228/17. 1519 Selkirk B. Ct. MS. 72 b.
The penult daye of Julii 1519 Peebles Chart. 49. 1540–1 Prestwick B. Rec. 55. 1543 Reg. Cupar A. II. 28. 1549–50 Cupar B. Rec. 30 Jan.
Upon the penult day of Ianuar 1554 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 202. 1556 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 298. 1569 Glasgow Dioc. Reg. I. 189. a1578 Pitsc. II. 276/31.
Vpone the penult and henmest day of Marche —1597 Household Bks. Jas. VI. 30–31 Jan.
Monunday the penult day Tuyisday the last day(b) 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 9.
Fra the xxiii day of October exclusive to the pennult day of the samyn inclusive 1547 Reg. Cupar A. II. 50. 1549 Breadalbane Coll. No. 68.
The pennult day of August 1555 Stirling B. Rec. I. 62. 1591 Lennox Mun. 333.(c) 1527 Douglas Corr. 117.
Writt at Edinburght the penault day of Marche(2) 1597 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 23 a.
We haue count … the penelt daye of my one schepes countis ine the Nehauene 1626 Edinb. Univ. Chart. 106.
Upoune the penult Mononday of Junij(3) c1630 Scot Narr. 127.
Moderator of the penult Generall Assembly
2. ellipt. as noun. The last day but one (of a month).(1) 1570 Canongate Ct. Bk. 293.
The penult of December 1586 St. A. Kirk S. 576. 1611 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 318. 1623 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 147 (15 Jan.).
To compeir … the penult of this instant 1648 Cullen Kirk S. 30 Jan.
The penult of January 1648(b) 1550–1 Corr. M. Lorraine 345.
The panulte of Fabruerij(2) 1558-66 Reg. of Signatures in Knox II. 322 n.
Penult September 1571 1619 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 136.
Sent … penult Februar 1619 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 276 heading.
Penult Jully 1658 1672 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS. 24 Feb.
Till Weddinsday nixt being the ordinar court dyet and penuld instant
