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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Famyl(e, Famel(l, n. Also: famyll(e, famil(e, famele, -eill, femell. [OF. famille. App. not in use in ME.]

1. A household; the servants and others forming a household.(a) 1388 Douglas Chart. 33.
S[ch]o sal haf fre issov and leif to pass at hir will, and hir mene, hir famyl, with al thair gvdys a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 637.
Hyre famyle, mare & les, As thai ware tacht, bare fals witnes c1420 Wynt. iii. 52.
His famyle thare … That was the chambure than wyth out 1438 Montgomery Mem. 29.
That the forsayd Alexander sall find his dochter for fyff yher with the repayr off hyr husband and his famil 1452 Acts II. 41/2.
That na man halde wittall mayr than will serf him and his famyle for ane quarter of a ȝere 1580 Inverness B. Rec. I. 286.
All … fre men … to mak thair actuall residence, wyth thair wyiffis, bernis, famyll, … within the burcht(b) 14.. Acts I. 69/2.
Gif he be his lege man … or wonnand on his lande or of his famel c1460 Wisd. Sol. 410.
I had in hows women and men seruandis, with gret famell, to do my werkis a1500 Doug. K. Hart 41.
Thir folk with all the femell thai micht fang Quhilk nummerit ane milȝon and weill mo 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 36.
I hope thow sal do als weill As did the father of fameill 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 216.
Outlandis men nocht beand maryit, nor haiffand famele, nor sufficient substaunce 1594 Grant Chart. 186.
That thai … [and] thair famelis … sall obserue and keip the Kingis Maiesties peace

2. A kindred or lineage. c1420 Wynt. iv. 2634.
Off that hous and that famylle He wes off kyn and off renowne Ib. viii. 706.
Hys name … That wes famows … Amang his kyn and his famyle 1513 Doug. v. iii. 36.
Sergestus, Quham fra the famyle come hait Sergia Ib. viii. iv. 190.
The famyll of Pynaria the bald Ib. ix. vii. 173.
The famyl and ofspring of Ené 1535 Stewart 41160.
His hous and famell … Onto sic riches and greit honour grew