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 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Neutral(l, a. and n. Also: newtrall, -ale, -aill, newttrall, neatrall, notrale, nutrel. [Late ME. and e.m.E. neutral, -all, newtrall, n. pl. (c 1449), adj. (1592), F. neutral (1536 in Godef.), L. neutrāl-is. In the 16th c. appar. chiefly Sc.] Neutral.

1. In grammar: Neuter. = Neuter a. 1. 1531 Vaus 4.
All verbis personalis ar actiuis, passiuis or neutralis be the significatione 16.. Rudiments 9 a.
Quhow manie sorts of verbs ar there? … Fyve, actiue, passiue, neutrall, deponent and commune Ib. 14 a. Ib. 23 a.
The neutrall is that which … mith not admitt the passiue forme, as curro, ambulo. The verb sum also with the compounds is neutrall — Ib. 4b.
In the plurall it is declined in the nom. & accus. in the gener neutrall onlie

2. Neutral, not committed to either side in a dispute; uncommitted, uninvolved; impartial, unbiased. a. Of persons. 1494 Loutfut MS. 17 b.
Scho haldis hir neutrale betuix thaim 1543 Corr. M. Lorraine 44.
Befor your lordschip at is notrale 1545–6 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 543.
To cheis ane newtrale unsuspect man to be thair provest … nothir favorand the Lordis Ruthven nor Gray 1549 Compl. 74/11.
Sum of ȝou ar becum neutral men Ib. 88/34. 1549–50 Balcarres P. V.,  Adv. MS. 29. 2. 5/101.
Be the consideratioun off nevtrall wysmen 1551 Reg. Privy C. I. 116. 1552 Perth Guildry 287 (4 Nov.).
The samyn being fund insufficient merchandis at the syth of thre neutrall merchandis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 52.
Quhairin wes comprehendit sum lordis neutrallis and mony of thair aduersaries 1562 Peebles B. Rec. I. 282.
To be considerit be newtrale and famous men quhilkis [etc.] 1586–7 Cal. Sc. P. IX. 398.
Newtrall 1601 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 27 Apr.
The merch stanis sett … be honest newtrall men 1602 Conv. Burghs II. 139.
The marineris to haif thair hyre … as newtrall men sall fynd agreable with ressoun 16.. Hist. Kennedy 17.
The Erll of Caissillis … feynitt werry newttrall in this caus 1634 Galloway P. 8 Oct.
Be the sycht of newtrall men and craftismen c1630 Scot Apol. Narr. 117.
The King would needs have the leets changed and a neutrall man chosen a1650 Row 367.
A third sort there were of neutrall men who … did adjoyne themselves to neither of the other two sorts 1654 Inverness Rec. II. 209.
Newtrall 1665 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds I. 53.
Neatrall 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 421.
The said lose … to be pryset by four newtrall skillfull sworne men

b. transf. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 8.
This Thanaus … was haldin … of gret prudence, havand bot newtrall affection to baith the partyis Ib. II. 97.
Becaus fresch men come … the victorie wes lang uncertane and the chance of fortoun newtrale 1567 Reg. Privy C. I. 583.
My Lord Regent … willing to remove the seditious factionis standing within the said burgh be ane newtrall and indifferent way

c. Of places: Belonging to, or controlled by, neither party in a dispute. 1564–5 Reg. Privy C. I. 316.
Ordaining the officiar to … collect the saidis teindis, to stak the samyn in neutrall places 1571 Dumfr. & Galloway Soc. XXVIII. 113.
I sall meit thé in newtrall and unsuspect place

d. Applied to persons who are not members of a craft or of the trades community as standing outside these bodies. 15.. Oath of Hammerman in Stirling Archæol. Soc., 27–8, p. 24.
No nutrel man shall have any shair of my busenes or the profets arising therefrom 1697 Glasgow B. Rec. IV. 238.
Six persones to be nominated be the trades house, and also to these tuo persones who shall be … chosen by the kirk session out of the newtrall rank

e. noun. One who remains neutral or uncommitted; also, a third party or intermediary in a transaction, who is not himself directly concerned.(1) 1570 Warrender P. I. 81.
For the Quene, off erlles. … Against hir. … Neutrallis and indifferentis ? 1589 Reg. Privy C. IV. 825.
The barronis … have for the maist pairt ather bein pairtakeris with the said erle in his errour or at least newtraillis and absentis from his majesties service 1638 Rothes Affairs Kirk 130.
Others that lye as neutralls sould not be attendit till they declair themselves(2) c1575 Balfour Pract. 152.
Albeit that he to quhome the payment was maid had no mandat … to ressave the samin fra the said neutrall