A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1577-1610
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Rebell(i)ous, adj. Also: -ieous, -ius. [Late ME and e.m.E. rebellous(e (1432–92), -ious (1535), -yous(e, obs. F. rebelleux, L. *rebellōsus, *-iōsus.] Inclined to defiance of authority or insurrection; insubordinate; refractory.Also absol. as coll. noun.(1) c1420 Wynt. vii 2611 (W) (see Rebellio(u)n(e n. 1).
Rebellous a1578 Pitsc. I 293/20.
Quhy haue ȝe rissin so against him … schawand ȝour selffis so rebellieous aganis him 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in 1573-1600 Cath. Tr. (S.T.S.) 73/10.
Men … becumis rebellious to … the eternall God 1596 Dalr. I 14/12.
A weirlie peple … , ay cumirsum and rebellious to the Romanis selfes 1608 Bk. Islay 124.
To suppres and trede under all and quhatsumevir rebellious lymmaris within ony pairt of his majesties impyre 1610 Misc. Maitl. C. III 11.
The rebellious and barbarous thevis and lymmaris callit the Clangregour(2) 1584 Knox III 464.
So rebellous is my wicked natureabsol. 1600-1610 Melvill 348.
Divers rankes of persones within his flock, as namlie atheists, rebellius, and those that [etc.]
b. In a state of rebellion; engaged in rebellion. — 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I 59.
To bring … the instant rentall of thir males [etc.] … of quhatsumever landis [etc.] … quhilkis pertenit to oure declarit trateirous, rebellious and unnaturell subiectis
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"Rebellous adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rebellious>
