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 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Material, a. and n. Also: materiall(e, materyalle, matterial, materiell. [ME. materiel (a 1340), ME. and e.m.E. material(l, -yal(l, F. matériel (14th c., in Hatz.Darm.), late L. māteriālis.]

A. adj. 1. That go(es) to compose or make up something, constituent, component. b. In Aristotelian logic and Scholastic theology: Consisting of the elements or factors which together make up or go to produce a state of affairs. c1420 Wynt. v. 4827.
Thre tytlys materyalle [C. materialle] Is off that fest pryncipalleb. (1) c1420 Wynt. v. Prol. 37.
All the caus materyalle Off the dowbyll governale 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 313 b.
The materiall caus of all this are creaturis ressonable, mortal, glorificable(2) 1490 Irland Mir. I. 85/37.
In the syn ȝit are twa thingis, ane materiall, that is, fomes, that is prauite, concupiscence and inclinacioune to syn, the secund is formale, that is [etc.]

c. Consisting of literary content or subject matter (Mater(e n. 5). Material subiect, = subject matter. c1590 Fowler I. 303/11.
Titillis of bookes ar occasioned … through the material subiect quhairof thay intreat

2. Consisting of or pertaining to physical substance; chiefly, material as opposed to spiritual, mental or the like; physical, corporeal.(1) c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 48/24.
Thow suld with gret appetit vse & frequent the materiall kirk, and namlie of the parrochin that thow art of 1549 Compl. 33/18.
This material varld that is maid of the four elementis, of the eird, the vattir, the ayr, ande the fyir Ib. 33/31. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 735.
Adam did craftelye impone Ane speciall name … to all thyngis materiall Ib. 821.
Syne frome that joye materiall Gone to the glore imperiall Ib. 6036. 1625 Stirling Kirk S. in Misc. Maitl. C. I. 466.
The abbuse of this materiall kirk be wyld foullis, namelie the howllat, quha enteris thairin the tyme of divine service(2) 1581–2 Elgin Rec. I. 164.
That scho in na times to cum sall ring bessingis [etc.] … nor na vther materiall veschill … upon Vphelly ewin

B. n. 1. plur. and coll. The physical substances or objects to be used for some process or operation, or out of which something may be made or constructed; ‘raw material(s’. = Mater(e n. 1 b.plur. 1492 Myll Spect. 278/11.
The materialls quhar of thir drynkis [sc. love-potions] are mad 1510–11 Treas. Acc. IV. 354.
In compleit payment of all powderis, ypothecary materialis [etc.] 1511–12 Ib.
For siklik powderis, confectionis, spiceri, ypothecary and materialez 1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I. 280.
For the … biggin of the caichpule … and … materiallis viz. stanis sand and lyme 1578 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 75. 1594 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 60.
Thair [craftsmen's] haill warkis … quhedder the materiallis thairof apperteins to the craftisman … or to [another] 1599 Acts IV. 187/2.
Ane new forme of killis … quhairby … the malt sall retene na taist of the materiallis quhairwith it salhappin to be dryit 1600 Ib. 249/2.
[Mines] of mettallis, minerallis and materiallis 1602 Montrose Treas. Acc. ii.
For biging of the loft with his awne materiallis 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II. 32. 1622 Edinb. Test. LI. iii.
In his … buithe in materiallis for lilting vnwrocht 1640 Aberd. B. Rec. I. 249. c1650 Spalding II. 158.
[To] skleat … the kirk … with new lath, new skleat and new materiallis 1669 Edinb. Test. LXXIV. 48.
The haill materialls and instruments belonging to his lithouse 1681 New Mills Manuf. 6.
Matteriallscoll. 1509–10 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 125.
[That] Maister Stephane, ypothegar, … may … vse the samin [booth] with his materiall and spisery 1632 Dumbarton B. Rec. 38.
Because … [the] mr of wark … gois aff the toun … for stanis or uthir materiall

b. plur. Equipment, apparatus, implements, tools, for some operation. 1599–1600 Mill Mediæv. Plays 206.
Followis the materiallis pertening to the ton [of Edinburgh] 1615–16 M. Works Acc. XI. 2 b.
For careing … his studie, belleis and other materiallis belanging thairto 1643 Acts VI. i. 16/1.
Sufficient store of pulder, spades, showles, pick axes, handrules and other materiallis 1651–2 Peebles B. Rec. II. 194. 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III. 176.
Salt, cordage [etc.] … and other materialls to be imported … for the said fisheing 1676 Edinb. B. Rec. X. 289.
That all materialls for shippeing at Leith … might be made … within this kingdome 1688 Misc. Bann. C. II. 293.
The heall bookis, paper, and uther materiellis in his choap

2. = Mater(e n. 1. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 704.
Be His word all thyng was wrocht Without materiall maid of nocht

3. A substance, generally. = Mater(e n. 2. 1492 Myll Spect. 275/9.
How will thai paynt & lay on thare facis diuers materialis 1533 Boece vii. ix. 239 b.
Thai … suld mak bekynnys … [and] be ony hwmyd materialis rais ane smoik