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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sous(e, n.¹ Also: sowse. Pl. sous(e, sows(e, sowze, suis, sous(s)is, sousses, sowsis. [e.m.E. sowsse pl. (1486 in Cely Papers), sous, souse sing., sousz, sowse, souces pl. (all early 16th c.), OF sous, pl. of sol, solt (see So(u)l n.).]

1. = So(u)l n., the French coin. Also attrib.sing. (1) 1545 Reg. Privy C. I 2.
That the testane of the King of France be taken out through this realme for v s. vi d. and the souse for vi d. 1566 Aberd. B. Rec. I 362.
Of ilk tune of gudis in France ane sowse 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 42.
We have bought a quarter a 100 of delicat peirs for a souse, which makes just a groat the hunder(2) 1576 (16 … ) Dundee B. Laws 117.
He sall pay … for ilk Frenche sous twelfe pennies 1596 Dalr. I 40/7.
Of pertrikis in sum cuntreyes ar gret abundance, bot of laferokis ouer al far gretter, in sa far that xii for a Frenche sous thay commounlie sell(3) 1596 Dalr. I 63/17.
A hundir egs commonlie war cofte for a Frenche sous of Turineuninfl. pl. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 283.
He gaif to the said Jennen in France … xx frankis ij½ sous 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 114.
To the armoraris in France of drinksilvir xxx sous, and giffin thairfor in Scottis monee xv s. 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 294.
Sowse 1530–31 Perth Guildry p. 193 (23 Jan.).
Sex deniris of the steik of clath Thre sous of ilk tovn woll or vther geir 1533–4 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 66.
v souse 1574 Conv. Burghs I 31.
For downgetting of ten sows of the twn of wyne in Burdeaulx 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 51.
The deuill … cumis to pure and indigent men, quha sellis thair saulis to him for ten sous 15… Aberd. B. Rec. (Jam.).
The bailyeis chargit him to take the Inglis grot vnrovngit for thre sous in pament c1625 Fam. Innes 211.
I liw hear for vi suis in the day 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 159, etc. 1668 Irvine Mun. II 227.
Souze 1678 Glasgow B. Rec. III 255.attrib. 1590 St. A. B. Ct. 2 Sept.
Pay to Jhone Cwik skipper … xx s. for ane xx sous ryellinfl. pl. 1524 Acts XII 40/2.
Forsamekle as sowsis tracentis & karolusis Franche monye … has passage in this ralme 1544 Hopetoun MS in Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 97.
The maist pairt of the saidis bawbeis were coinyeit of clippit soussis quhilkis than wer proclamit in France for bullion and send heir to be conuertit in bawbeis 1550 Edinb. Hammermen 183b.
Tynt of ewill sowsis that wos gadderrit in the said extent v s. 1550 Elgin Rec. I 103.
That na persoun … rafuse for merchandece or ony vther wys … sowsis that pas nocht throch the ring and mesour 1550 Reg. Privy C. I 102.
The clippit sowsis and clippit caralus ar cryit doun in the realme of France, and nane hes passage bot hale sowsis unclippit 1550–1 Corr. M. Lorraine 346.
He cuist out ane pursfull of auld sousis 1551 Reg. Privy C. I 118.
Our Soverane Ladys liegis refussis to ressave the saidis sowsis, half sowsis, [etc.] … fra the Franchemen of weir 1596 Edinb. Test. XXIX 241.
In sousis and Scottis siluer xxiiij li. 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 357.
The baser sort … ar sousses and steivers of the fynnes of 3 deneris and under

2. In various, chiefly negative, phrases characterising something of little or no value. 1567 Sel. MSS Q. Mary 175.
It wes noucht in my powar to fallow, for I had nocht ane sows a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlvi 38.
Quhair scho findis a fallow fyne, He wilbe frawcht fre for a sous 1570 Sat. P. xx 78.
The murther … thay do deny, And countis ȝow not ane sous 1570 Sat. P. xxiv 24.
Of thy auld Lordschip beis not left ane sous 1588 Cal. Sc. P. IX 662.
There are sondry [of] the blait men deceaved … The devill a souse he will give for the Queen or King of Scotland 1604-31 Craig iii 14.
Thou … Who builds and maks of others wrack thy wealth, And soulles man will not oversee a souse 1611 Melvill in McCrie Melville 446.
The flocks Who came to cowrt with thair auld mullis and sockis, Quher thai war nocht regairdit with ane sows