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

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

Stub(b)urn(e, adj. and n. Also: stub(b)orn, stubbroun, stubroune. [ME and e.m.E. stibourne (Chaucer), stuborn, stiburn (both Lydgate), stuburne (Tyndale), stubburne (1541).]

A. adj. 1. a. Of a person: Recalcitrant, obstinate, disobedient (also, to do something). 1550 Knox III 37.
To be stuburne is the sin of idolatrie 1555 Edinb. B. Rec. II 213.
For … expelling of the sturdy stuburn beggaris furth of this burgh 1559 Knox VI 32.
The Reformation is somewhat violent, because the adversareis be stubburn 1570 Edinb. Hammermen 234b.
To put Mathow Smythis man in the tolbuyth becaus he was stubburne 1560 Bk. Disc. 229.
Yf the offendar callit before the Ministerie be fund stuburne, hard-hertit, or one in whome no signe of repentence appeareth a1578 Pitsc. I 81/17.
Bot seing he was sumthing stuburne to obey the command … the kingis maiestie commandit … to bring him agains his will a1578 Pitsc. I 114/15.
The inhabitaris was stuburn and maid thame to gainestand the kingis autorietie 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 256.
In adulterie he was tane Maid to be punissit for his paik But he was stubburne in his talk 1594 Misc. Maitl. C. I 68.
Johnne Kincaid … remaning stubburne to the … admonitionis of the kirk 1602 Conv. Burghs II 138.
Gif ony of them beis fund stubroune and contrarie heirto and will nocht be agreabill to ressoun 1622-6 Bisset I 17.
Proudest, stubbroun tirrantis to him bow

b. transf. Of non-material things: Characterised by recalcitrance or obstinacy. 1560 Acts II 527/2.
Their stubburne contempt of justice 1561 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XV 47.
Thrawart and stubburne continence 1583 Melvill 156.
Efter a stubburn sylence from pretching the space of a haill yeir 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) ii 56.
A proud stubborn froward mind

2. Of ground: Difficult to work, heavy. 1684-9 Glamis Bk. Record 34.
The great low gardine a marrish stuborn clay

B. noun. (A) recalcitrant or obstinate person or persons; one guilty of obstinate or disobedient behaviour in the view of the kirk. 1554 Knox VI 516.
Before the uttermost of his plaigues be powred furth upon the stubburne 1613 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 18a (9 June).
The sessiouns ordanis him as ane stubburne to be dilait to the presbyterie at the nixt visitatioun