A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1533, 1597, 1691
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Succuby, n. Pl. succubi. [ME and e.m.E. succubus (Trevisa), med. L. succubus (c1190 in Latham), L. succuba. Cf. Incubus n.] A succubus, a demon in female form believed to seduce men in their sleep. Also comb. — 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 46/13.
That abhominable kinde of the Deuills abusing of men or women, was called of old, incubi and succubi, according to the difference of the sexes that they conuersed with 1691 Kirk Secr. Commonw. (1933) 105.
There may be many fair ladies of this aereal order, which do often tryst with lascivious young men, in the quality of succubi or lightsome paramours and strumpets, called leannain sith —comb. 1533 Boece 280.
He was inquiet … be ane devil succuby [L. a dæmone succuba (vt dicunt)] of maist plesand … forme
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"Succuby n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/succuby>
