A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1500-1599
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Proterve, adj. [ME proterue (once, Wyclif), L. protervus forward, bold, pert, wanton, impudent, obs. F. proterve (c 1277 in Godef.).] Wayward; froward; perverse; stubborn; petulant. — 15.. Clariodus i 1037.
Bot now my fault most wickit and proterve All finishit is 15.. Ib. v 872.
Of the most … happie delyverance Of my proterve misfortune and mischance [MS chance] Be King Clariodus 1560 St. A. Kirk S. 63.
He … wald say, with ane proterve and severe visage … with his hand upoun his quhingar, that he wiste quhat held his hand bot [etc.] 1567 Satirical Poems vi 31.
Man of his awin nature is so proterue
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"Proterve adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/proterve>
