Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Crualté, Crewalté, n. Also: crwallté, creual-, crewal(l)tie. [ME. and e.m.E. crualté, OF. crualté, irreg. f. cruel, for cruelté Cruelté.] Cruelty.(a) c1420 Wynt. v. 323.
Throuch foly gret and crualte, Herrode gert hym hevydyd be Ib. 5201; etc.
Brwde … Was movyd in gret crwallte Agayne the saynct and his menyhe 1549 Compl. 3/2.
As … Iudith vas inspirit to delyuir the Ieuis fra the crualte of that infideil pagan Oliphernes Ib. 13/33.
Gude hope that danve fortoune vil mittigat hyr auen crualte(b) c1420 Wynt. ii. 9 (C).
Al Asy throw his crewalte Withe were and batal dawntyt he c1500-c1512 Dunb. x. 140.
I schryve me … Of tyranny, and vengeable crewaltie Ib. xxiv. 1.
Me thocht the Devill was tempand fast The peple with aithis of crewaltie 1560 Bk. Discip. 222.
If you permit suche creualtie to be used a1578 Pitsc. I. 66/25.
Haveand great hope that great crewalltie … sould have ane sudden end 1679 Wodrow MSS. 4to. XXXVII. No. 7.
We sall give som small accompt … of ther crewaltie and wnhumane dealing