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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.

Criminale, -al(l, a. Also: cryminale, -all, cremenall. [e.m.E. criminall, ME. cryminall (Lydgate), L. crīminālis.]

1. Guilty of a crime or crimes. Also const. of. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 988.
Thus was his body … Bund at ane pillar as caytif criminale 1531 Bell. Boece II. .
He commandit … the kirkis and sanctuaris … to be sicker refuge to all criminal personis 1533 Boece xi. iv. 411 b.
The noblis … had vehenent suspicioun that he suld be cryminall of the tresoun Ib. v. 412 b.
It is propir to ane criminall conscience to fere all thing 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9201.
Gif I had nayit to him battall, Than had I ȝald my self all criminall

2. Of the nature of (a) crime. c1515 Asl. MS. II. 271/18.
O cleir conclaif of clene virginite, That closit Crist but curis criminale c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 139.
I schryve me … Off criminall caus, off deid of fellony a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xcix. 34.
Sum may commit sic deidis criminale That may thame gar bayth geir and landis tyne 1622-6 Bisset I. 16/26.
To put the samyn breve In the twelf tabillis, quhilk did thame comprehend Civill and criminall

3. Relating to crime or its punishment. 1512 Justiciary Rec. (Reg. H.) III. 300.
The criminal action of the said slachter … suld be put to the knaulege of ane assis 1531 Maxwell Mem. I. 263.
The sayd Schir Iames dischargis hym … of all actions, bayth civelle and cryminale 1567 Acts III. 28/1.
Als thay … salbe innocent, fre, and acquyte … of all actioun, and cause criminall 1587 Fam. Innes 148.
For settyng asyid … of all … actionis cremenall or sevall betwix ws 1662 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I. 56.
Many criminal letters here mentioned … were not called 1670 Ib. II. 8.
Compears Mr James Grant, … and produces the criminall letters

b. Having jurisdiction in criminal cases. a1578 Pitsc. I. 388/15.
Saying … that he did neuer sic ane plesour as to make him iudge criminall to sick wnhappie arratickis 1622-6 Bisset I. 16/5.
The justice cryminall gettis na thing now ado