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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.

Colourit, Colorit, ppl. adj. Also: coloret, collerit. [ME. coloured, -et (14th c.). See also Cullourit.]

1. fig. Specious, plausible, pretended. 1488 Acts II. 211/1.
Aluterly in thar defalt and colourit dyssate done be him & his peruerst counsale 1490 Acta Aud. 141/2.
[It] sall be na crime to him becausse he did it be a colourit richt as said is 1533 Boece vii. x. 241 b.
His colorit wourdis war nocht to thame vnkend 1535 Stewart 39141.
He … With colorit law rycht mony saikles slew 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2865.
Ane cavell … Will rin to Rome … And, syne, cum hame, with mony colorit crack 1567 Acts III. 27/2.
Be indirect and colourit menis, to colour, and hald bak the knawlege of the treuth of the committaris of the said cryme 1571 Reg. Privy C. II. 102.
Rebellis and dissobedient subjectis … , passand to and fra Edinburgh under a coloret pretense of saulffing … thair guidis being thairin a1578 Pitsc. I. 141/30.
Quhen they requirit ony thing wnder collerit fraud and gyle

2. Having a particular colour. 1503 Treas. Acc. II. 204.
For vj elne braid rede crammesy colourit 1513 Doug. vi. xi. 57.
The bissy beys … On diuers colorit flouris skalit wide 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV. 272.
Thrie oxin blak collerit of v ȝeir auldis