A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1512, 1567-1569
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Ble, n. Also: blee, blie. [ME. ble, blee (also e.m.E.), early bleo, OE. bléo.] Colour; complexion.Only in poetry, and in alliterative phrases. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxix. 369.
The laydy brycht of ble c1450-2 Howlat 3.
The bemes blythest of ble c1450-2 Ib. 17.
Birdis blythest of ble c1450-2 Ib. 355.
Ane egill … all of sable … The beke … of that ilk ble a1500 Golagros and Gawane 212.
Coupis of cleir gold, brichtest of ble a1500 Ib. 895.
Ane blonk, of ane ble quhite a1500 Ib. 1133.
Othir bernys for barrat blakynnit thair ble c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 165.
Blaiknyt is thy ble a1568 Bannatyne MS 225 b/20.
Fairweill thou beriall blycht of blie a1568 Scott xxi. 4.
My bludles blaiknit ble 1569 Satirical Poems x. 15.
Baith blaiknit, blude and ble
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"Ble n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/ble>
