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: 1537-1646
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Vocal(l, Wocal(l, Vaucal, adj. and n. [ME and e.m.E. vocal (a1395), vocall (1526), F. vocal, L. vōcālis.]
A. adj. a. Uttered, communicated with the voice. b. Of music: Made with the voice, sung.a., b. a1538 Abell 2b.
Enos begoth to incale the neyme of God with wocal orisone 1640 Kennedy Aberd. Ann. II 135 (see Virginal(l n. a coll.). 1646 Glasgow B. Rec. II 96.
He … teaching the tounes bairnes vocall musick for threttie schillings … and both vocall and instrumentall musick for fourtie schillings ilk quarter (b) c1590 Fowler I 224/9.
Lat thir hoarse clamours of my vaucal vox Perverberat your eares or orcus vex
B. noun. A vowel. c1550-c1580 Art of Music 36b, 37.
The fyve vocalis A/e/i/o/u of the quhilkis ewrie ane salbe tane for ane simpill noit of plane sang … Attour suppose the vocalis sumtymes dois pas in the strenth of consonantis … quhan ane vocall is put befoir ane vther vocall spellit togidder completand ane hoill sillabe but ony vther letteris in the samyn sillab than coniunct [gap] the musicianis has despensit with the saiddis vocalis … thairfor … the first vocall [etc.] … The secund vo[c]all /e/ [etc.] … The thrid vocal /i/ [etc.] … Eftir the ordour of this foirwrittin exemple, all vocalis conteint in ony vtheris ditteis in this present maner … salbe modulat 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 8a.
Cast twa of the first away Of the wocallis tak the next tway
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"Vocal adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/vocall>
