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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.

Refuge, n. Also: ra- and -fwge, -fudge; -fuige; -foug. [ME and e.m.E. refuge (Chaucer), reffuge, F. refuge (12th c.), L. refugium, f. fugere to flee.]

1. Shelter, or protection, from danger or trouble. Also, once, pl.To tak (a person) in refuge, to give shelter or protection to.(1) 1456 Hay II 50/22.
Sa that all … personis that had myster suld throu him [sc. the knight] have reconfourt and refuge at nede Id. Alex. (S.T.S.) 924.
At the reirgard thai suld ay get refuge 1533 Boece 359b.
Euery man … in the dirk nycht socht refuge 1535 Stewart 18070.
To fleme men seikand refuge at me(b) 1572 Sat. P. xxxiv 57.
Gif no refudge ane man may win, The penitent for helpe may sterue a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 885 (W).
Thocht dreid and danger … fled to find refudge [L. refuige] 1605 Crim. Trials II 464.
Ane saiftie and place of refudge to all(c) a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 879 (L) (see (b) above).
Refuigepl. 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3096 (Ch.).
Quhairfoir servis … temporall judges Gif temporall maters sould seik at ȝow refuges?(2) 1549 Compl. 87/30.
Alcibiades past for refuge to the Lacedemoniens 1585 Acts III 402/2.
He … for refuge euir compellit to remane in the girth sensyne — 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV i 120.
Quha for her rafuge without the advyse or counsell of us her nobilitie bot in the hoip … scho had in ȝour majestie(3) c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 247.
Gif I will take him in refuge

b. ? The right, or opportunity, of appealing to a higher judge (but perh. merely further examples of i above).Cf. F. refuge ‘possibilite d'avoir recours à un juge supérieur’ (c1470 in Wartburg). a1500 Henr. Prayer 83.
O King … Our sin is huge, refuge we nocht suspect, And thow be juge, dislug ws of this steid c1500 Rowll Cursing 184.
He gaif decreit but refuge That all pykaris of pultre Gais nocht to hevin

c. In neg. clauses: To have … refuge (in a person, place or thing), to have the possibility of shelter, and/or protection. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 47.
And he having na refuge in the quene … tuke for a [tyme] the Erll of Mortonis colouris 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 303.
The said … horsmen … haueand no refuge … faucht creuallie a1578 Pitsc. I 111/25.
That he grantit he had no wther refuge nor help of restitutioun bot in the kingis clemencie a1585 Maitl. Q. 154/54.
Fals Helene … Had neuer caused King Priamus wraik In Troy nor had refudge

2. A way, or means, of obtaining protection or safety; a resource. 1529 Lynd. Complaynt 147.
To put the ruther in his hand Without Godds grace, is no refuge 1533 Boece 151b.
Armys … to cowartis thai ar fensabill and maist sure refuge 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 471.
Kyngis, … thare is no refuge: Except ȝour jugis justlie juge The causis of … Boith … ryche and … puris a1578 Pitsc. I 116/7.
The king seand na refwge passit in ane scheip heistelie to Sanctandros

b. Of a person or place: (To be) (of) refuge to (of) a person, (to be) a source of, or (to provide) a possibility of, protection or security (to someone). 1494 Loutfut MS 39a.
& man of gret refuge to thaim that fled to forterissis for succors 1531 Bell. Boece II 11.
He … commandit the kirkis and sanctuaris … to be sicker refuge to all criminal personis c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 1540.
To euerie man [he was] ane equall judge, And of the pure he wes refuge 1567 Sat. P. vii 69.
The royall hous, refuge to honest men

c. To have or seik (one's) refuge to (till) (a person or thing), to go to in search of safety or protection; to appeal to (a person) for help or support; to have recourse to. a1538 Abell 51a.
At nane suld be drawin out of the kirk at hes refuge till it 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 174.
Lat all Christiane man … haue refuge to the juge Ib. 100. 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 16/28.
Reiectand that mark … ye seik refuge to ane vther mark 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 90.
He maks clame to these lands, and hath his refuge to John Earl of Catteynes

d. To keep ane refuge (to), to maintain the possibility of escape (to); to keep open an escape route. 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 44.
He … coverit himself with the cloik of religioun … bot neuir sa closse bot he keepit ane refuge to sum sanctuarie of the Papistis

e. A pretext or excuse. 1573 Tyrie in Cath. Tr. 8/32.
Euer seikand refugis and bygets … to distrack the readars intentioun and spreit

3. Applied to a person, group of persons, place or thing that may provide aid, protection or shelter; ? a relieving force or army. 1460 Hay Alex. (S.T.S.) 4185.
That na refuge mycht cum be land or se c1500-c1512 Dunb. (S.T.S.) xiv 47.
Sa small refugeis the peur man to debait 1531 Bell. Boece I 145.
The … pepill … fled … to thair best refuge 1535 Stewart 38715.
Thair is no help bot all in ȝour awin handis So far fra hame … Without refuge or supple in this place 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 279.
The fort: that is my last refoug 1567 G. Ball. 69.
Christ is … Our help, and our refuge 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 33.
Ane sanctuary of tressoun ane refuge of ydolatre 1571 Sat. P. xxv 132.
This noble ludge … is … Our princes plane refuge 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Asylum, a gyrth or refuge