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.
Quotation dates: 1569-1585
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Perhap(p)is, -haps, adv. [e.m.E. perhapis (1528), -happes (1534), -haps (1541): cf. Paraventur(e, Parcas(e and Parchance, and Perhap(e and Perhappin.] Perchance. a. In a hypothetical statement: As is possible, as may be, perhaps. b. By chance. —a. 1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 36.
Thocht my speich haue perhappis bene langer than ȝe lukit for 1572 Ib. 48. 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 340.
He will perhapis say that [etc.] —b. a1585 Maitland Quarto MS lxv. 26.
Voluing this way into my maucles mynd Perhaps I hard ane cative full of cair a1585 Ib. lxix. 19.
Perhaps ane grene medow I saw
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"Perhapis adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/perhappis>
