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: 1563-1643
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Insolency, -encie, n. Plur. -encyis, -encies, -enceis, -ensies, insulansies. [e.m.E. and late ME. insolency (1494). In common use in the 17th c. as in English.]
1. = Insolence 1 and 2. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 34.
Ȝour selffis that hes sufficient power to repres thair insolency and proudnes a1578 Pitsc. I. 128/6.
It offendit him … that his enemies raigit mair in thair insolencie and that he was compassit with rebellieoun 1609 Lett. Eccles. Affairs I. 185.
We find the enemyis of our religoun grow daylie in pryd and insolencie
2. = Insolence n. 3. Freq. in plural. 1607 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 293.
For suppressing of the insolencies of a numer of deboschit and disorderit persones 1622 Grant Chart. 335.
Being diuers tymes rebell … for cruell … murthouris and otheris insolencyis committit be him 1643 Acts VI. 22/2.
They have committed ane greate insolencie and hich offence against auctoritie
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"Insolency n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/insolency>
