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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Imag(e)ry, Ymag(e)ry, n. Also: imag(e)rie, -eré, -ierie, ymag(e)rie, -eré. [ME. imagerie (14th c.), ymagery, -erie (a 1325), OF. imagerie (13th c.).]

1. Carved figures or statues collectively; pictorial carving; ornamentation of this kind. ?1438 Alex. ii. 6768.
Jupiteris hie palais, … That was masoned and quaralled weill With … imagery 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 151.
Subtile muldrie [etc.] … , Quick imagerie with mony lustie singis Id. Æn. ix. v. 94.
Twa siluer cowpys … With figuris grave and punsyt ymagery 1531 Bell. Boece I. 48.
On thir sepulturis was ingravin imageris of dragonis, wolfis and othir beistis 1538–9 M. Works Acc. V. 27.
For … maid irne werk in cruikis … to the imagry and new wyndois in the est quarter

b. Pictorial or patterned decoration on cloth or paper; designs, embroidery. a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 258.
Richt as the quhyte papere is redy to the prent Of blak and blewe, fair or foule ymagerie 1497 Edinb. Hammermen 22 b.
At the diuisioun of oure ymagery and of the fassoun of the same clath 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 343.
For xxj thrugh of ymagery to be patrownis to the broudstar 1529 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 230.
Ane antepend before the altar … bordourit with gold crucifix and ymagery 1552 Treas. Acc. X. 53.
For broddering of certane imagereis upoun vestimentes … , tway half hankis of sewing gold

2. The images of saints or divinities collectively. b. The use of images in worship. 1531 Bell. Boece II. 142.
Ane convention at Nece … to decerne gif the imageris of sanctis suld be honorit in kirkis or not 1533 Boece viii. xiii. 278 b.
Templis dedicate in honoure of oure Saluatoure … war … fylit with ymagery of idolis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2178.
Habraham … prayit to the Lorde allone, Fals imagry he wald haue none 1559 Warrender P. I. 279.
The kirkis of Edinburgh wer destroyit and the imagerie therin 1581 Bk. Univ. Kirk II. 516.
We detest … [the] worshiping of imagrie, reliques and croces