Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Insolent, a. Also: insollent. [ME. insolent (c 1386), L. insolens.]

1. Immoderate in conduct or speech; arrogant. a1500 Henr. Fab. 71.
As damysellis wantoun and insolent, That fane wald play, and on the streit be sene 1531 Bell. Boece II. 297.
Mony young and insolent baronis of Scotland, richt desirus to haif sum pleseir … be chace of hundis Id. Livy I. 123/26.
Thare insolent and barnelie contencioun c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 688.
Ȝouth maid him sa insolent, That he in France wald not remane a1578 Pitsc. I. 42/4.
The high fortoune that ȝe ar promovit to .ar nocht committ to ȝow that ȝe sould be mair insollent thairof thinking thairby to oppres inferieouris 1600 Hamilton Facile Tr. 419.
The desolation of sindrie families, be insolent rinning auay of wyfis fra thair husbands

2. Unwonted, unusual. 1554 Knox III. 104.
Evin as thocht the … quotidiane plagues of pestilence, and uther contagious, insolent and strange maladies were not … signis of Godis wraith