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

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Portingal(l, -gale, n. and adj. Also: Portein-, Portane- and -gaill, -gayll. Plur. -gallis etc., -galx. [ME and e.m.E. Portyngale (Chaucer), -gal (c 1435), Portingaill: cf. Portugall, and MF Portingallois adj. (Wartburg), med. L. (Eng.) Portingalensis adj. (c 1192, c 1420), Portuguese.For the intrusive n, cf. Nichtingale.]

1. Portugal, the name of the country.Plesance of Portingale, ? taken as an unusually splendid kind of garden. 14.. Orphius 4.
This day is gain all haill Euer the plisance of Portingale 15.. Clar. i 1023.
But failȝeing My father was of Portingall ane knicht

2. Portuguese. a. noun. A Portuguese: a native of Portugal; also, a Portuguese vessel. (Chiefly) b. adj. Of Portugal.a. (1) 1497 Treas. Acc. I 383.
To the Portingales in almous 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 45.
Thair is diverse Scottis schippis makand furth in weirfair upoun the Spanyertis, Portingallis, and uthairis nationis 1558 Prot. Bk. J. Robeson 252 b.
The lettre of mark grantit to the said vmquhile Jhone vpoun the Portingallis 1570–1 Edinb. B. Rec. III 283.
Certane schippis … laidnyt with the guddis of Portingallis c 1571 Conv. Burghs I 21.
To rais letters … and caus the samyn be execute vpoun all schippis [etc.] … and speciall vpoun sic as ar to pas vpoun the Portingalx 1598 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 346.
[2 pinnaces … with men,] negers [and] Portingals [in them] 1601 Dundee Shipping P. 70.
In Sant Amart for the Portanegall and meat thre sindray taymeis(2) 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 141.
Thar com twa Bartanaris on your cost and had tayne ane pryis of Porttergayll, and twa I[n]glis men folwyt thame and twyk the Portingayll and ane of the Bartenarisb. (1) 1498 Treas. Acc. I 388.
Giffin to the Portingale man of the west see 1565 Ib. XI 387.
To Johnie Drabrow, Portingale hat makar 1592–3 James VI Letter to Burghley MS.
It happynit the Erll of Cummerland thair to … tak twa Portingall barkis 1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 27 a.
Of Porteingall wares(2) 1567 Edinb. Test. I 51 b.
Ane Portingall doucatt price thairof xx pundis 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 270. c 1578 Maxwell Mem. I 311.
Ane Portingaill ducatt, ane rois nobile, ane Harie noble [etc.] 1581 Transcribed Acc. (1577–1613) in Argyll Mun. 16 June.
For the price of ane Portingall dowcat delyverit be the compteris vyff to my lady … at xxv lib. 1591 Treas. Acc. MS 36 b.
To his maiesties self to play at the cairtis ane Portingale ducat [etc.] 1598 Acts IV 175/2. 1604 Edinb. B. Rec. VI 328. 1607 Edinb. Test. XLIII 259.
I lewe to Agnes Fyscher ane Portingal ducat with ane purpill veluot purs 1611 Crim. Trials III 178.
Portingall-doucattis 1649 Ruthven Corr. 117.
Of the weight of a Portingall doucat