A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1499-1617
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Proudnes(se, n. Also: proude-, prowd-; prudenes. [e.m.E. proudenes (1552).] = Prid(e n. a. Splendour, grandeur. b. Excessive self-satisfaction, overweening vanity; haughtiness, arrogance, insolence.a. a1500 King Hart 326.
Dame Danger hes of dolour to him drest Ane pallioun that na proudnes hes withoutb. c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix 116 (M).
I synnit … In hie exaltit arrogance and folie, Proudnes, derisioun [etc.] 1533 Boece 294.
Occa … quhilk be proudenes of this victorie … barnely ran amang inemyis 1566 Cal. Sc. P. II 314.
[Not to think he] staid for proudnesse [or not knowing his duty] a1568 Bannatyne MS 228b/58.
Hir hois of honest hamelines Na proudnes to pretend 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 34.
That hes sufficient power to represse thair insolency and proudnes a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS ciii 7.
Haue na pryde nor proudnes, This warld will not lesta1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xxviii 4. a1578 Pitsc. I 69/33.
And send thame furtht to repres the proudnes of the commonsa1578 Ib. 82/21 (see Pridefullnes n.).
Prudenes a1578 Ib. 103/26.
They knew that his [the prince's] proudnes could not lake ane mischevous end 1578 Bk. Carlaverock II 483.
Ane few disloyall subiectis … begynnand to grow in sic nowmeris and proudnes 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 84/2. 1588 King Catechism in Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 207/9. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 162.
To suppres the prowdnes of your majesties subjects
c. Self-respect, ‘honest’ pride. a1578 Pitsc. II 303/19.
Bot than quhair was thair manlines and proudnes
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"Proudnes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/proudnesse>
