A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1399-1438, 1499-1500
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Defoule, Defowle, n. Also: defoull(e. [ME. defoule (14th c.), f. Defoul(e,v.
1. Despiteful treatment, outrage, disgrace. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxi. 577.
Gret luf to Petyre the folk had That gret defowle to hym had done Before 1400 Facs. Nat. MSS. II. 44.
Of the quhilk wrangis and defowle to me and my douchter … done, I … requere yhow of help c1400 Troy-bk. i. 151.
Als gret defoule may fall hym till As we haue sustenyt c1420 Wynt. iv. 142.
Scho plenyheyd … Off the defoule wes till hyr done c1420 Ib. viii. 3414.
Lychtlynes and succwdry Drawys in defowle comownaly a1500 Bk. Chess 281.
This ladye … askit sic remeid … For the defoule was to hir douchter done a1500 Ib. 585.
2. Trampling under foot. ?1438 Alex. ii. 5223.
And [= if] I Clarus … May at myscheif or failȝeing finde Into defoull of stedes stamping
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"Defoule n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/defoule_n>
