A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Vestal(e, -all, Vastal, Wastaill, adj. [Late ME vestalle (1432-50), vestal(e (1579-80), L. vestālis f. Vesta the Roman goddess.] a. Virgine vestal, a vestal virgin, one of the priestesses who tended the sacred fire in the temple of Vesta in Rome. b. Characteristic of a vestal virgin, chaste, pure. —a. 1533 Bell. Livy I 202/22.
Thai condampnit Oppia the virgine vestal for hir incest, and berijt hir quyk 1533 Bell. Livy II 113/5.
Posthvmea virgine vestale was accusit for violatioun of hir chaistite a1538 Abell 9b.
Rhea, virgin wastaill … bure twa twenis Reyn & Romule quharfore sche wes eirdit queyk a1538 Abell 11*b.
Wirgynnys vastal deflourit wes erdit quhik —b. a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxxv 49.
Hir vestall breist of ivorie, Quhairon ar fixit fast Tua tuins of clene virginitie, Lyk boullis of alabast
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"Vestal adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 25 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/vestale>
