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: 1537-1589
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Librall, Librel(l, n. Also: libraill, liberall. [Var., with altered ending, of Librar n.1] A library: a collection of books; also, a room etc. where books are housed. Also attrib. with -bukis. a1538 Abell 7 b.
Librel of 400 thousand bukys wes byrnt a1538 Ib. 15 a.
Maister of his libraill callit Dymetreit grantit that he had 20 thousand wolumis a1538 Ib. 119 b.
Ane odir hous biggit for instruktioun of the forsaid barnis with librell, dortur, fratur and chapell1539 Treasurer's Accounts VII. 195. 1574 Edinburgh Testaments III. 215.
I leve my haill bukis to be ane commoun liberall to the new college 1587 Ib. XVII. 242 b.
His haill buikis and librall quhair of the buikis of law he leiffis to his eldest soune1589 Coll. Aberd. & B. 355.attrib. 1542 Acts & Decr. I. 140.
In his oratour … his orasoun buke couerit with grene veluot … his librell bukis contenand twa cours of the law … with bukis of theologie & vther science
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"Librall n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/librall>
