Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Fortalice, n. Also: fortalyce, foirtalice; fortalys, -alis, -ales, -aleis; fortilice, -ilis, -iles(e; fortulyce, -ulece; fortilege, -eleg, -ulage. [OF. fortelesce, med. L. fortilescia, -elitia, fortelescum, etc. Hence also late ME. fortelitie (1494), e.m.E. fortilage (1590), fortilesse (1642).] A fortress or fortification.Common in the 16th cent., esp. in the (a) form. The singular form is sometimes used for the plural.(a) c1420 Wynt. viii. 4179.
Thare in thai made a fortalyce [C. fortulyce] Ib. 4219 (C).
The castellanys wan at the last The fortulece 1438 Acts II, 32/2.
Quhare thar is ony rebellys … within ony castellys or fortalicis resett or haldyn c1515 Asl. MS. I. 229/16.
King James the second … wan and distroyit xvij towris & fortaliceis 1500 Coll. Aberd. & B. 318.
To big … a toure and fortalice … and thairuppoun to mak bertasing, battaling, … and all other defens 1548 Digest Justiciary Proc. A. 75.
The Inglis capitanes and inymeis than being in the fortalice of Sanct Colmes Inche 1572 Peebles B. Rec. 337.
To … destrenye all thame quha ar nocht bent for the defence of the tovne, in body and gudis, wappynis, fortalices and dykis 1594 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 102.
Mattockis, gavellokis and utheris warklomes … , for demolischeing and casting doun of houssis and fortalices 1634 Wemyss of Bogie MSS.
To resigne … the landis with the manor place, foirtalice [etc.] 1662 Burnett Fam. P. MS.
The saids lands … with the tower, fortalice, and maner place theroffig. c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iii. 823.
Christ our flour and fortalice(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 1717.
For till get in till his hand The castellis and the fortalys [C. fortaleis] 1513 Doug. iii. ii. 133.
Our folkis than … Exort I to … rays on hycht the strenth and fortales 1532 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 145.
All dettis to be tane oup and varit upon artailyery, pouder, fortalissis [etc.] c1615 Chron. Kings 62.
He recowerit … all the fortaleissis that the Inglischmen held(c) 1504 Rep. Menzies MSS. 37.
The … downe-castin of his mansioun place and fortilice 1507 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 709.
The beilding … of my auld tour and fortilese 1547 Corr. M. Lorraine 188.
Ther folkis proposis to bryng graitht and werkmen to sett up fortilis 1558 Acts II. 510/2.
Takand … be force the fortilice of Saltoun Halis and Nunraw(d) 1489 Charter (Reg. H.) No. 549.
Ane letter of assedacioun … of the said landis, tour, & fortilege 1514 Lennox Mun. 209.
Hous, byggyngis, and forteleg 1558 Misc. Abbotsf. C. 17.
I sall ressaue the said Robert in to my howissis and fortulageis in his tyme of neid