Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Peopill, Peopl(e, n. Also: -eill, -ell. [Late ME. (15th c.) and e.m.E. people, spelling var. of ME. poeple (14th c.), AF. poeple (1292), OF. poeple, pueple, peuple, puple, pople: cf. Pupil(l and Pepil(l.] People. = Pepil(l n. c1616 Hume Orthog. 21.
For peple they wryte people I trow because it cumes from populus(1) 1596 Dalr. I. 75/18.
That … thay mycht grow into ane people 1689 Memorial for Prince of Orange in Relation to the Affairs of Scotland 21.
But ye are … a lucken-handed and fast griping people(2) c 1535 Nisbet I. 13.
Peter preachit Christe vnto the peopill 1558-66 Knox II. 425 (MS. G.).
What opinioun may ingender in the peopillis heidis 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 110.
For the stanche of the mouthes of the peopill 1588 King Cat. 81 b.
Peopl 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 280.
Thair belman … sayd to the assistand people whair at wounder ȝe? 1649 Cullen Kirk S. 20 May.
Dishaunted be the touns people 1654 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III. 54.
The haill people of the natione(3) 1557 Facs. Nat. MSS. III. xl.
To minister Christes … sacramentes to his peopill 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I. lxii.
Swa that the people be nocht in danger because of inlaik of preching of the true Catholick faith 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 97.
Quhat is a prince without a peopill a1585 Maitl. Q. xlvi. 50.
God his peculiar proper peopill previt 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 431 (see Lege a. 4 c). 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 2/10.
For gyding of ȝour people great and small 1600 Crim. Trials II. 234.
They ar not worthie to … preiche publictlie to his heynes peopill 1662 Lamont Diary 158.
Ponteus, the montebancke … had his peopell that played on the scaffold(4) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxvii. 51 (R).
Great was the pres of peopill dwelt about a1578 Pitsc. II. 283/9.
Nochtwithstanding it … causis the ruid peopeill to … vnderstand the matter the mair easelie Ib. (1728) 133.
Imagery is the books of the laick and common people 1612 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 205.
As thaes peopill do esteam itt 1614 Melrose P. 159.
Sic people hes not beane in vse to haunte heir away 1620 Grant Chart. 216.
Thaes idill and wagabund peopill callit Egiptianeis