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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.

Provok(e, -voik, v. Also: -voi(c)ke, -voic-, -voc-, -wok, -woik; -vook; -voake; -vouck; -vock(e, -wock(e. P.t. also -vocat. [Late ME and e.m.E. provoke (1432–50), OF provoker (14th c. in Godef.), mod. F. provoquer, L. prōvocāre to call forth, challenge, f. prō- and -vocāre to call. Cf. Provocat v.]

1. tr. To call forth; to invoke (a spirit); to summon, as by sounding a bell; to call for (something). 1513 Doug. vii v 100.
And the laith gaist Furth … of hell Scho dyd provoke Ib. x i 27.
Haist not the sesson to provoke nor prevene 1526 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 155.
[A bell to be rung] to prouok the saidis Ihone and Ionatis kyne … to cum to thair exequias

2. To challenge (a right) by putting forward an appeal against it. 1492 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 63.
Gif any of our … indwelleris … wald cause our said priuelege … to [be] resort or prouokit before the lords, and swa putt it in disputatioun [etc.]

b. intr. To put forward an appeal; to make an appeal to. 1572 Wemyss Chart. 209.
We … appellis and prouookis be thir presentis fra the said pretendit sentens … for ramaid to be pit heirin 1653 Binning Wks. 280.
And besides, the apostle used to provoke to the very testimony of five hundred, who [etc.]

3. tr. To challenge (a person) (to combat or battle, or to do something, usu. to fight).Also without const.(1) 1513 Doug. i viii 82.
We ar defendit to herbry on the sand, Prouokyt eik to batale 1533 Bell. Livy I 145/31.
Sum tyme provokand euery ane of thame to singulare batall a1578 Pitsc. II 18 h. of ch.
Prowocked 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 309.
They that lifted and heased their arms … and provoked God as it were to the singular combat … have their hands to seek 1596 Dalr. I 283/4.
The Inglismen … prouokis him [Constantine] to battell Ib. 313/29.
Hand for hand he prouokis him to the singular combatt(2) 1535 Stewart 57403.
The lord Cliffurd richt oft provoikit he With him to fecht in barras hand for hand 1562 Knox Ressoning in 1558-66 Wks. VI 171.
Be which wordes, the prophet doeth as it were in mockage, provoke idolaters, and the idoles to produce for them selves some evident testimonies by the which [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 22/10.
The Earlie of Lennox … provockand thame to fight witht him or ellis to keip thair promisse 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 365.
They ryd about the house, provocking him to com furth into the feilds(3) 1474 Aberd. B. Rec. I 407.
William … come before the court and keist downe his hat, profferand him to fecht in the said querel; … Alexr. … askit ane testimonial of the court how that he manasit and prouokit him

4. Of a person, or a material or non-material thing: To incite, rouse or urge (a person, also an animal) (to (tyl) do something, or to a specified activity, form of behaviour, etc.).Const. also without compl., (once) with cl. obj., or with omission of personal obj.Also, passive without specification of agent.(1) ?a1500 Remembr. Passion 560.
Oure God and our king suld prouok ws to tholl aduersite for our self c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2542.
Quyet counsallouris Prouocand princis to sched saikles blude Ib. 3509.
His douchteris quyetlye did creip In tyll his bed … Prouokand hym with thame to lye 1596 Dalr. II 182/36. 1597 Skene Verb. S. To the Reader.
I did it nocht [etc.] … bot to prouoke vthers to doe better — 1513 Doug. vi iii 29.
With his boys trump as he Went … To stryfe prouoking the goddis 1528 Lynd. Dreme 191.
Thay did nocht instruct the ignorent, Prouocand thame to pennence, be precheing 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 318.
Ministaris quha aucht … to provok vtheris to godlie conversatioun 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv Prol. 57.
Blind Baals bischops, provocking God to yire 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 10.
That the prophets did not provock to such courses(b) 1513 Doug. x Prol. 135.
Thou … wald nocht skant Ws to provoik to lufe thé ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 78.
Provoicke — a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun x.
That thow … provoik thame [thy neighbours] nocht to yre 1619 Perth Kirk S. MS 13 Sept.
Prouoicit 1629 Justiciary Cases I 142.
The said James … nawayis … to irritat or provoik thame to offence(2) a1500 Henr. Fab. 1442 (Bann.).
The sueit sessoun prowokit ws to dans a1500 Bernardus 89.
For glutony prouokys thé tyl expende And vast thi gudis 1492 Myll Spect. 275/15.
Lyk as the precius entyrmentis prouokis men to the syn of lechory 1513 Doug. iii vi 2.
Quhil at the weddir prouokis ws to assay Our salis agane 1549 Compl. 85/18.
Thir vordis … suld prouoke ȝou to tak curaige Ib. 145/18.
Than … nature prouokit them to begyn sum litil police Ib. 145/25.
Exquisit electuars to prouoke the pepil til ane disordinat appetit Ib. 141/19. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 184.
Quhilk did prouoke myne hart tyl natural ioye 1650 Fugitive Poetry II xxv 1/10.
Whose strong efforts provokt the heavens to move(b) 1531 Bell. Boece II 130.
Improffitabil glore that may provoik our nixt nichbouris to frequent weris a1578 Pitsc. I 48/2. a1585 Maitl. Q. xlix 17.
Ȝour perles vertew dois provoike … My mynd to freindschip reciproc c1600 Montg. Suppl. vii 29.
Sua esperance … Prowoiking will in purpois to proceid(c) 1558-66 Knox II 323.
That he was provocked by the entysmentis of the quene regent to do that which he sore reapented 1629 Boyd Last B. 210.
Wormes … which prouocke the eater to spitte(d) ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 102.
And all trade barrd … to provouck them to a breache(3) 1513 Doug. v vi 11.
Quhar, with rewardis seir, he dyd provoke The curage and myndis of ȝong foke c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. ix 2.
And your lufe has prouokit full mony 1540 Crim. Trials I i 228.
A man baith craftie and bauld, and now provockid be ignomie, vntryid a1578 Pitsc. I 363/8.
Thir motiues and wther ma provockit the King of Scotland se that he consentit to the marieag 1596 Dalr. I 334/11.
Wilȝeam, prouoket with sik humanitie and gentlenes, sent [etc.] — 1634 Wedderburn Gramm. 59.
Lacesso, to provoake(4) 1596 Dalr. II 339/20.
The Scotis quha war with the quene prouoikeng that scho pas to Scotland prepares al thing to the jornay(5) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 459 (C).
The goddes ageyn hem in-to ire Provoked certanly to be 1533 Boece 276.
Thinking he mycht nocht … vincus the pepill sua hielie provokit to fecht 1565 Mill Mediæv. Plays 154.
Certane seditious personis … prowokit to a certane bauld raschnes 1596 Dalr. I 60/6.
Sum of thame [geese] … ar allured and prouoked to remane amang the lochis

b. To provok (one person agains(t another), to stir up to resentment or the like. 1568 Buch. Indict. 40.
Sche confronted thame togidder and never left to provock the ane agains the vther 1596 Dalr. II 137/28.
[The] ambassadour to moue our king … and … to prouoik him against Ingland 1674 Edinb. B. Rec. X 204.
Any contrair course that may furder provock and insense his sacred majestie against us

5. To incite (a person) to anger; to vex, irritate.(a) 1562 Inverness Rec. I 95.
That … he rebuittit Nycoll Kar beand baillie … prouocand … and dispittand him, sayand … ‘I will nocht ansuer thé' 1562-3 Winȝet II 30/25.
It is nocht lesum … to prouoke an wthir, or to inwy an wthir 1584 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 93.
Giff ony mennis wyffis offendis, sklanderis, or provokis ayther in wourd or deid [etc.](b) 1621 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. i 3.
That heirafter the persounes quho provockis the other, either by word or deid, sal be punishit [etc.] 1644 Shetland Witch Trial in Hibbert Shetland Islands 594.
Ye persisting in your … devilish intentions to undo and provock … Edward you did thereby marr and undo twa whole makings of the same bear 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 600.
And this cannot bot heighlie provock the Lord 1668 Corshill Baron Ct. 80.
He provocked the said Johne Dillidaff with ill langwage

6. To stir up or arouse (an emotion, action, etc.); to bring about; to give rise to.In this sense, appar. only Sc. till 1610. 1456 Hay I 279/19.
And it is to presume … that it war … to provoke nois and debatis 1513 Doug. xiii vi 110.
Mor … fersly he Furth spowtit fyre, prouocand the melle Ib. vii 53.
Prouocand and commovand the goddis greif 1533 Boece 115b.
Thai … in … merressis full of crag stanis … provokit the batell Ib. 314b.
Be war that … ȝe grow neuer sa insolent that ȝe provoik the ire … of ȝoure creature 1533 Bell. Livy I 161/22.
Mamilius … provokit [v.r. provocat] new batall on the Romanis 1533 Gau 16/9.
Thay sine … that prouokis ony ewil desir … in thair selff or in oders with … ymagis or payntre 1551 Hamilton Cat. 243.
This … is nocht ane word to provoik the mercy of God to us 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2212.
Cvrage prouokis hardynes a1585 Maitland Maitl. Q. ii 18.
Na preiching will gar thame foirbeir To weir all thing that sinne provoikis

b. To give rise to or bring about (a physical condition). 1549 Compl. 67/6.
Grene seggis that ar gude to prouoke the flouris of vemen a1568 Weddirburne Bann. MS 287b/16.
In profound pane provokand thy awin deid 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 28.
Prouokand sweit & sleip thairefter Id. Descr. Well.
Being also laxatiue and prouokis womitine 1642 Kinghorn Kirk S. 44.
Plaides about womans heads in church on the Sabbath … is a meane to provock sleep