Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
VOCABLE, n. A word, a lexical item (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 130). Obs. in Eng. in the 17th c. but reintroduced from Sc. in the 19th. In pl. = vocabulary, word-lists.Abd. 1700–11 Burgh Rec. Abd. (B.R.S.) 328, 345:
The first four sections of Wederburns vocables . . . Reading Latine, mandating vocables.Sc. 1786 A. Geddes Prospectus New Translation Bible 61:
A different vocable for every different idea.Sc. 1787 A. Geddes Letter to Bishop of London 82:
I had ventured to use the word vocable. Some have approved of it, as a term we wanted; others have objected to it as an innovation.
