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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.

Governaile, -nale, -nall, n. Also: governayle, -naill,-nalle, gowernal, gouvernail, -nall. [ME. governayle (c 1374), -naile, -nale, -nall(e, -nel, OF. governail, -naille.]

1. A rudder. a1400 Leg. S. xvi. 210.
The Jowis thire & mony wthyre … Put in a bat apone the se Bot gouernale 1602 Colville Parænese 9.
Vithout the gouuernall the schip can not be veill gouernit

2. Governing, government, in various senses.Frequent in the 15th cent., rare after 1500.(a) 1375 Barb. xi. 161.
He set ledaris till ilk battale, [that] Knawyn war of gud gouernale Ib. xvi. 358.
Of the marchis than had he The gouernale and the pouste a1400 Leg. S. xxiv. 393.
The gouernale … tane haf we Of haly kirk & cristine land c1420 Wynt. iv. 21.
To tha he lypnyd the governale Off the comoune state Ib. v. 815, etc.
He … till hym comendyt hale Off his gret ost the governale 1417 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 38.
The ȝeir … of our gouernale the elleuende 1461 Liber Plusc. 395.
To cheis trev men … Of al thi gudis to haue the gouernale(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 1652.
Hys sone Askaneus tuk all hale Off Ytaly the governayle Ib. iii. 838.
All the cure of his batayle, And off his ost the governaile 1417 Acts I. 227/2.
Gevyn vnder oure seil at Perth … of oure gouuernail the tuelft c1475 Wall. viii. 16.
Thai … Besocht him fair, … To cum and tak sum gouernaill on hand(c) c1420 Wynt. v. 1275.
He … made lawys imperialle And wes rycht wis in governalle Ib. vi. 350 (W).
The statis of France … prayit him … To discerne for gouernall Quhether [etc.] 1415 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 37.
Thir our letteris for the tym of our gowernal til euduir 1424 Acts II. 8/1.
That na merchande … pas oure the see in merchandice bot gif he haue … committyt till his gouernall thre serplathis of woll or the valoure therof c1475 Wall. vi. 786.
Lykly he was, … tharto rycht liberall, Plesand and wis in all gud gouernall 1483 Reg. Episc. Brechin I. 206.
Gewin wnder our priwe seeie … the ȝer of our gouvernall the elewend 1513 Doug. x. Prol. 5.
Thou … Quhilk grantyt hes to every wight to haue Quhat thing mast ganys onto hys governall [: all] 1546 Lynd. Trag. Card. 71.
Off all Scotland, I had the gouernall [: cardinal] a1578 Pitsc. I. 305/18.
The lordis … thocht that they wald … put the governall all haill in his awin hand