A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1552-1617
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Unfructfull, -fruictful, -frut(e)ful, adj. [ME and e.m.E. vnfruytful (Wyclif), vnfrutefull (1535), vnfructefull (1549); Fructfull adj., Fruitfull adj.] a. Of lands or seasons: That fail to yield a crop; barren, infertile. b. transf. Unproductive, unprofitable. —a. 1571 Ferg. Serm. iii Malachi Sig. C ivb.
Vnfruteful seasounis, strange diseasis, derth, famine and vther incommoditeis quhairwith the warld is oppressit 1593 Warrender P. (SHS) II 213.
Personis disobedient that occupyis and makes unfruictful to ws a lairge boundes of the proper landis of our crowne —b. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 203.
I lose my tyme … for to rehers Sick vnfrutful and vaine discriptioun a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 157.
In this mater thair was sa lang unfructfull tyme spent that nather was the trespassor puneist nor [etc.]
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"Unfructfull adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/unfructfull>
