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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Gentil woman, Gentil(l)woman, n. Also: gentel, gentle, jentill, -yll. [ME. gentil woman (c 1230), after OF. gentil femme.] A gentlewoman. (Usually as two words.)(a) c1420 Wynt. iv. 139.
A lady fre, A gentill woman of gud fame 1456 Hay I. 252/12.
Sayand that … gentill wommen can nocht wele juge in dede of armes c1475 Wall. i. 289.
With gentill wemen hapnyt thaim to pas Off Ingland born 1492 Myll Spect. 297/22.
All ladyes, damesollis, aibd gentill wemen of ane gud fame 1514 Acta Conc. MS. XXVI. 87.
The quhilk Sybell … was nother madene, mannis wiffe nor wedew bot ane anelape gentillwoman 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 197.
Thre chawfferonis of gold to gentill wemenne 1566 Prot. Bk. T. Johnsoun 101.
Ane gentillwomannis sadill 1570 Reg. Morton I. 51.
Seildome hes bene sene that gentilvemenis geir … suld be thus trublit and stayit for thair huisbandis dettis 1603 Treas. Acc. MS. 221 b.
James Glen, laquey to the dames and gentilwemen c1650 Spalding II. 379.
With tua gentilwemen attending the youngladieattrib. 1587 Edinb. Test. xviii. 54.
Four craipis of siluer for gentill wemen huidis(b) 1539 Treas. Acc. VII. 267.
For drauchtis of the jentill wemennis cofferis 1549 Prot. Bk. J. Crawford 37.
[To] cleyth the said … in bed & bak as efferis to ane jentyll voman to haif