A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1617
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Mercy-, Merciles, a. and adv. Also: mercie-, mairci-, mearceles. [ME. (14th c.) and e.m.E. mercy-, merciles(se.]
1. Merciless; showing no mercy; devoid of mercy, pitiless. c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxii. 30.
Ever quhen I think ȝow harde or dour Or mercyles in my succour c1500-c1512 Id. lxiv. 5.
Except onlie that ȝe ar mercyles 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 163/1.
He vsit his mercyles crualte contrar them a1568 Bannatyne MS 217 a/5.
And scho be mairciles a1568 Scott xx. 7. a1568 Ib. xxi. 10. a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI 309.
How unnaturall and mearceles traitors thay artransf. a1578 Pitsc. I. 319 n.
Quhilk was callit efterhend the merciles mark of Schir James Hammiltoun
2. Obtaining no mercy, unpitied.Passing into adv. (next sense). 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 10695.
Merciles to be marterit a1568 Scott xvii. ii.
Bot merciles I go from ȝeir to ȝeir c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 467.
Ȝe … That seis ȝournedie brotherin distres … bot layfis him mercyles a1568 Bannatyne MS 223 b/32. 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 119.
Our ennemies … sal say, God hes left us mercyles
3. adv. Mercilessly, pitilessly, ruthlessly. 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 1/19.
The vniuersal pestilens … that hes occurit mercyles amang the pepil 1562-3 Winȝet I. 12/1.
To abolise and pull the samyn [sc. images] mercyles vp be the rutis 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 470.
The pure that ar … Opprest and hereit mercyles 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 177. 1614 Highland P. III. 188.
Let thame knawe … how mercieles all was execut
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"Merciles adj., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/merciles>
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