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: 1533-1571, 1656-1665
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(Public wele,) Public weil(l, n. Also: publict, puplyk and veil(l, weal. [e.m.E. publyke, publike wele (Malory, Caxton), also late ME and e.m.E. welle puplike (1447), weale-publike (1632), publyque welth (1538).] a. The good or welfare of the community or nation as a whole. = Commoun wele n. 1, 2. b. A commonwealth, community. = Commoun wele n. 3.a. 1533 Bell. Livy I 174/21.
The public weill, sade Claudius, is nocht sa desert, … bot [etc.] 1533 Ib. 182/24.
To that fyne that ȝoure public weil suld myster the ministracioun of this office 1533 Ib. II 112/29. 1547 Cal. Sc. P. I 18.
[To forward your godly wish for union of the realms and] puplyk weill 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 1/3.
Fra ȝour magnanime auansing of the public veil of the affligit realme of Scotlande 1549 Ib. 9/26.
Anent the gouuernyng of the public veil 1549 Ib. 184/11.
Considerand that baytht there querellis tendit to the demolitione of the antiant public veil of the Romans 1549 Ib. 10/11. 1571 Old Ross-shire I 365.
For uphalding of the samyn … to the publict weill of this realme in danting of lymmeris and ressaving of us 1656 Dumbarton B. Rec. 72.
For the public weal of the said burgh 1665 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXII 135.
For exercise of his airt and calling in public veillb. 1533 Bell. Livy II 142/26.
For the liberte of small pepill is nocht onelie sald, bot all the ȝoung men of Romane pepill perpetualie banyst fra thare ciete & public weil
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"Public Wele n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/public_wele>
