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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Smal(l, adv. Also: smaill. [ME and e.m.E. smale (13th c.), smal (1381), small (1578); Smal(l adj.]

1. Modifying verbs. a. Into small pieces. b. In such a manner as to produce a small, fine, etc. result. c. In small quantities, retail. d. To a small extent or degree; little, not much; freq., bot (richt) small.a. a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 561.
The quhele … brak ful smal a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 460.
& gert thar theis brokine be Sa smal, that [etc.]b. 1582 Misc. Stair Soc. I 115.
As men growis in aige thair hand is war staiblit and thairfoir thai writ rather greitar nor smallar 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I 197.
It would be no art … to spin small and make hypocrisy a goodly webc. 1515 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 155.
In intrometting with strangearis … baith in bying and selling small and greit contrare the statutis of the tound. 1375 Barb. vii 85.
Thoucht at thai maid gret folowing Full egrely thai wan bot small; Thar fayis ner eschapyt all a1400 Leg. S. i 411.
I dred rycht small Thine angelis ?1438 Alex. i 1850.
Thair haif thai maid sic ane meting That athir may prys small his winning ?1438 Alex. ii 6263.
Thay ar michty … And countis bot small ane lytle dangere ?1438 Alex. ii 7248.
Lytill ar thay worth and can bot small Of weir 1456 Hay I 11/11.
He trompit nocht small quhen he send his apostlis our all the warld 1456 Hay I 82/7.
Quhat availlis all thir uthir thre vertues, bot gif force be with thame bot full small? for throu force a man is stark a1500 Henr. Test. Cress. 548.
Thy gentilnes, I countit small a1500 Colk. Sow i 394.
Thay hard speik of men gud And small thairof vndirstud 1535 Stewart 1948.
Quhen ane[s] jolie persauit wes ane beist, Greit or small or all way at the leist Scho suld be keipit closlie vnder cuir Baith fra hir sone and hir progenitour 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6458.
Bot small he knew how all wald cum to end 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7523.
Into this taill richt small I can persaue To be extract of morall gude sentence(b) ?1438 Alex. i 208.
Alexander sall find na faill This day that I luif him bot smaill

2. In comb. with ppl. adjs.Specif., small waistit, having a slender waist; (our) small maid, made (too) narrow; small cuttit, cut to a small pattern. 1531 Bell. Boece II 511.
This prince wes … braid schulderit, and smal waistit — 1639 GrantBurgh Schools 198.
[The schoolmaster declares the fault of blooding the children not to be his] bot only be the new tawis our small maid 1567 Treas. Acc. MS 58.
vj pair of small cuttit gluiffis