A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490-1626
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Inferiour, -ieour, -ior, a. [ME. inferior (1432–50), e.m.E. -iour (1531), L. inferior.]
1. Lower in place or position. 1527 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 231.
The inferior part callit the holl of his schip
2. Lower in status; of less authority. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 151/7.
The litle montanis war the les angellis and inferior 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 219.
To cheis sic vther inferiour ouersearis as thai think expedient 1562-3 Winȝet I. 64/3.
Of the inferiour ordour of clergy and layitmen 1568 Pref. Lyndesay 9.
He hes not spairit king, … nobilitie, nor vtheris of inferiour estait 1570 Leslie 177.
He … pardonit the uderis inferiors suddartis c1575 Balfour Pract. 341.
An actioun beand desyrit to be advocat fra the inferiour judge to the Lordis c1575 Ib. 548.
Na court that is inferiour to ane baron court 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 234.
The ascentioun of [the] thre inferiour seigeis [= classes] salbe … att Candilmes 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i. 55.
As quhen the King … commands ane inferiour court to be summoned 1622-6 Bisset I. 272/15.
As the commisseris of Edinburgh hes power … to reduce the decreittis wranguslie gevin be all inferioure commisseris
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"Inferiour adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/inferiour_adj>
