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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.

Spousit, Spowsit, ppl. adj. Also: spoussit, spousyt, -et, -ed, spowsyd, -at, spouissit. [ME and e.m.E. spus(s)ed (both Cursor M.), spoused (c1425); Spous(e v.]

1. Married; (lawfully) wedded. Freq. with preceding possessive, and qualifying husband, wife, etc. a1400 Leg. S. vii 314.
A voyce sal be ha[r]d wele rath One spowsit men & wemen bath c1420 Wynt. vi 1658.
Scho a batward efftyr that Till hyr spowsyd husband gat 1428 Wemyss Chart. 54.
Wilyame of Levynstoun … sal hafe Eufame … in lachfull matrimonye, til his spousit wyfe 14.. Acts I 26/2.
Ilke spousyt man may ansuer for his spousyt wyff … geyff that scho be challangyt of ony thyng 1456 Hay I 266/11. 1472 Lennox Mun. 89.
Till gentill women, ladiis, wedovis, madys, or spousit women 1490 Irland Mir. II 111/32.
Infynit pepil of haly lif men and women virginis spousit folk … has constantly tholit tourment and haly martirdome 1533 Boece 270.
Vortigern … abiecting his awne spousit lady, he crownit Roxiene quene of Britan c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4902.
Thay keipit still thare wyffis, with honeste; As Peter, and his spousit bretherin all, Obseruit chaistitie matrymoniall 1556 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXVII 91.
I the said Jane Hepburne takis you Robert Lawder to my spousit husband as the law of the Haly Kirk schaws 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6024.
The stewart he hes led His awin spousit wife vnto the kingis bed 1563 Fam. Rose 241.
Spowsat 1588 King Cat. 116.
Vnto ye faithfull spoused persones is nocht onlie giuen fruictfulnes [etc.] 1592–3 Sutherland Bk. III 175.
Spouissit 1621 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I 60.
The bairnes lawfullie procreat betuix me & vmquhill Marioun Scland my first spouset wyff 1622-6 Bisset II 111/27.
Margaret … spoused wyfe to Johnne Balyoll

2. Born in wedlock; legitimate. 1447 Rec. Earld. Orkney 189.
Me Thomas off Ness the spowsit sone … off Patry off Nesse 1546 Rec. Earld. Orkney 233.
Irving Courtson, spousit sone and lauchfull air to … Cristiane Irland 1548 Rec. Earld. Orkney 235.
Me Maryone Ness, lauchfull spoussit dochter and ane lauchtful aire to my fader