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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scath(e)full, Scaithful(l, adj. Also: skath-, skaith-, skayth-. [ME unnskaþefull (Orm), e.m.E. scadefull (1527), skathfull (1586), OE sceaðfull.] Harmful, hurtful; that causes damage or injury.Const. to (till) the thing damaged, or without const.

a. Chiefly, of actions or non-material things. Chiefly predic.predic. (1) 1375 Barb. v 249.
Giff thé hapnys ony thing That anoyis or scaithfull [C. scathfull] be c1400 Troy-bk. i 32.
The quhilk tuk [counsel] wpone hand That skaithfull was 1456 Hay II 105/12.
That thou kepe … all thyne alliaunces, all be thai never sa scathefull na sa hinderand na grevable 1533 Boece 578.
Sic wanton latis and mysreul was mare skaithfull becaus [etc.] 1533 Bell. Livy II 123/27.
Alwayis this pest was thus les skaithfull than seditioun was appering to haue bene(2) c1420 Wynt. viii 6324.
That rad noucht gretly skathfull [C. skaythful] was Till the cuntre 1447 (1449–50) Reg. Great S. 68/2.
Privilegis of law, lettres [etc.] … the quhilk mycht profit til ony of the said partis or be scaithful or hindering to the tother 1529 St. P. Henry VIII IV 548.
Archibald … maid his eme our thesaurer … quhilk wes rycht skaithfull till ws 1531 Bell. Boece II 15.
Scaithfull 1533 Boece 360.
This bargane to baith the pepill sa skaithful Ib. 399.
The victorie was to him sare & skaithfull 1533 Gau 85/11.
Siclik prayers ar mair skaithful na profetabil to the saluatione of the saul 1551 Hamilton Cat. 166.
Wordis that ar noysum and skaythfull to thair nychtbouris a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun x.
And attempt no thing that may [be] skaythfull or dampnable thairto 1561–2 Reg. Privy C. I 198.
The tolbuyth … is … hable haistalie to … fall doun quhilk wil be verray … skaithfull to the people duelland thairabout 1570 Reg. Privy S. VI 168/2.
Ane pley … the persute quhairof wes na les skaithfull and sumptuous to him nor [etc.] c1650 Spalding I 283.
Quhilk did thame litle good, albeit skaithfull to the ownerattrib. 1533 Boece 194b.
Sa mony skaithfull iupertyis war made on nychtis and dayis 1533 Gau 3/4.
Amangis mony oder skaithful bukis and fals doctrine 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 173.
Eftir thair langsum and skaythfull troublis 1581 Acts III 222/2.
Quhairon skaithfull & schamefull inconvenientis dalie fallis out

b. Of material things. 1513 Doug. ii i 34.
And sum wondring the scaithful gyft beheld 1531 Bell. Boece I xxiv.
Winis … ar richt skaithfull to the nature of Albianis

c. Of an animal. 1533 Boece 64.
To persew … that beist [sc. the wolf] becaus to thare bestiall nane vthir was mare skaithfull