Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

REFUISE, v., n. Also refase (Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 213; wm.Sc. 1925 D. Mackenzie Macmorro's Luck 26), refaise (Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 83, Lth., Ayr. 1923–26 Wilson); refeese (Abd., a.1807 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 27, 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxi.; Mry. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 21; ‡ne.Sc. 1968), refiese (Abd. 1817 J. Christie Instructions 77). Sc. form and usages of Eng. refuse. [I., m., s.Sc. ‡rə′fø:z, Lth. + rə′fjøz; rə′fe:z; ne.Sc. ‡rə′fi:z]

I. v. †1. To deny. Obs. in Eng. in 15th c. Hence refusall, denial.Wgt. 1712 Session Rec. Kirkinner MS. (3 Feb.):
She refused that she went any further with her.Kcb. 1730 Session Bk. Minnigaff (1939) 534:
He persisted in his refusall of guilt.Rxb. 1736 Melrose Par. Rec. (S.R.S.) 216:
(She says) they were married. . . . He refuses the marriage.Abd. 1746 Hist. Papers Jacobite Period (S.C.) I. 271:
Refuses he was concerned any manner of way in the Rebellion.Ork. 1786 Ork. Miscellany II. 42:
He now complains these Pustles shourly would fill again. I refuse any such thing.

2. With to and inf.: To refuse to allow, forbid. Obs. in Eng. in 17th c.Fif. 1865 St. Andrews Gazette (8 April):
Dr. Lindsay read extracts from the Board of Trade wherein they refuse old lifeboats, as such, to be handed over to any one, unless the air cells, &c., are removed, and the hull alone disposed of.

II. n. A refusal (Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; ne.Sc., Slg., Fif., Wgt. 1968). Obs. in Eng. in 17th c.