Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Counsele, Counsell, n. Also: -seal, -celle, cownsell, counscell. [ME. counsel(e, -cel(e, rare variant of counseil, etc. Cf. Consel(e n.]

1. Counsel, advice.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 947.
Fele of the kynges to hys will And hys counsele anerdyt till 1456 Hay I. 23/25.
And he had bene outhir in counsele, confourt or help Ib. 81/5.
For gude curage … takis gude counsele 1549 Bk. Carlaverock II. 476.
We … sal concele his counsele gyff he ony schawis to ws(b) 1533 Boece i. ii. 35 b.
Gathele … be counsell of wyse prudent men send to spy [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6492.
Thair counsell … is comparit to butter into caill 1563 Lennox Mun. 247.
Tak the cownsell of the wyisest men 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 112.
Throw filthy speiche and counsell, That scho did heir of sum curst Kittie vnsell 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Homagium.
Ȝour counsell conceiland that ȝe schaw me: the best counsell schawand, gif ȝe charge me

2. A council; a body of counsellors.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 283.
Dere frendes, at this counsele here Present, holden in this manere [etc.] 1409 Exch. R. IV. p. ccx.
Thai sal preve gude acorde with the avisment of thair batheris counselis 1531 Bell. Boece I. 144.
He callit his nobillis to ane counseal 1568 Buch. Indict. 33.
He wes … restrainit fra acces to the counsele and fra knawleg of the counsele effayris(b) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 16.
The counsel, efter this orison of Fergus, thocht pluralite of capitanis unproffitabill ?1549 Monro W. Isles 6.
Albeit thair Lord were at his hunting … ȝit thai sate every one at thair counsell ministring justice 1560 Acts II. 532/1.
Of generall counsellis, of thair power, authoritie, and cause of thair conuentioun 1614 Orkney Rentals II. 130.
The trew and just rentall … to be produsit befor his Ma[jes]ties Counsell and Lordis of his Highnes Chaker 1627 Red Bk. Menteith II. 5.
President of our Counscell

b. A town-council. 1556 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 300.
The … counsell of this guid toune of Aberdene being convenit in the chepdour of the gray freiris 1565–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II. 236.
The eist dur of the stall quhair the provest and counsell sittis 1607 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 265.
The balleis and counsell … sall … caus him be ansuerit thairof 1643 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 4.
He … desyrit the counsell … to permit him to remove from the chairge at Witsinday nixt 1680 Peebles B. Rec. II. 98.
The counsell … have continewed James Melros eldest officer 1696 Ann. Banff I. 167.
Fish … to be sold … at such raitts as the Magistrats and Counsell shall appoynt

3. Attrib. with bell, day, ile (island). 1607–8 Misc. Spald. C. V. 83.
To the porter of the colledge for ringing the counsell bell — 1690 Peebles B. Rec. II. 134.
Iohn Govan and Alexander Williamsone … to enter themselves prisoners in the common prison … apon a counsell day — ?1549 Monro W. Isles 6.
Besides this ile … is ane uther … quhairin thai had thair Counsellhouse biggit; throw the quhilk the said Ile … in English is callit the Counsell-Ile