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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Self-blak, adj. (n.). Also: selff-, selve-, saill-. [e.m.E. (north.) sel-blacke adj. (1558), selblack n. (1562); also in later north. Eng. (but appar. not in Sc.) dial., as self black; Self adj. and Blak adj.]

1. adj. ? Uniformly black in colour or ? naturally black. 1607 Edinburgh Testaments XLIII 144.
Aucht elnes of claytht of selff blak at iij lib. the elne

2. noun. Material of this colour. Also attrib.(a) 1567 Edinburgh Testaments I 12.
Aucht ellis of self blak 1575 Edinburgh Testaments IV 4.
Five elnis … of braid self blak price of the eln xxiiij s. 1583 St. A. Test. II 18.
Nine elnis of narow self blak price of the eln xvj s. 1587 Edinburgh Testaments XVII 245.
I leif to … my seruand my best gray cloik of self blak with ane mantill goun 1595 Aberd. B. Rec. II 117.
Dauid Cargill … to gif to Gilbert Bairnis sacristar … ane gown of self blak, as ane garment maist convenient for his office 1600 Treasurer's Accounts MS 119b.
Selff blak to be slippis to the saidis saidillis(b) 1610 Brechin Testaments II 86.
Tuentie elnis of narow roche saill blak pryce xx lib.attrib. 1583 Perth B. Ct. 17 Sept.
Ane Frenche selve blak hait lynit with veluot and ane plait silk string 1585 Perth B. Ct. 27 April.
Ane self blak bonet without the string 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 28 Oct.
Anent the claime of ane selff blak cloke or v lib. for the pryce thairoff 1591 Digest Justiciary Proc. O 22.
He … gaif him ane self blak cloik of gray — 1597 Brechin Testaments I 156b.
vij elnes of bred self blak cleytht 1621 Acts IV 626/2.
That the housband men and laboreris … weare no cloathing bot grayes, quhyit, blew, and selff blak claithe maid in Scotland