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

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Curage, n. Also: curag, cuirage, curaig(e, curraig, curege. [ME. (rare) and OF. curage; variant of Corage and Courage.]

1. Mind, disposition, spirit. 1456 Hay I. 3/30.
My curage has gevin me to mak sum … thing till enforme ȝour ȝouthhede Ib. 60/18.
Thre worthi princis come till him of thair awin curage and propre motyf c1460 Thewis Wysmen 177.
Thai ar lordis of thar awn curage, And haldis thar lustis at serfage c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 57/3.
Men of gret curagis forgevis redely faltis c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlvii. 13.
No man hes curege for to wryte Quhat plesans is in lufe perfyte 1513 Doug. vi. vii. 96.
Moving na mair hir curage, … Than sche had bene a statew Ib. xii. ix. 87.
Fers of muyd and austern of curage 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. ix.
Sine dres thy hart, thy curage, and ingine, To suffir nane into thy hous abide [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS. 255 a/26.
Thocht luve be grene in gud curage And be difficill till asswage

2. Manly spirit; stoutness of heart; readiness to meet difficulty or danger. 1375 Barb. vi. 126.
Frequently with adjs., as grete, hardy, hie. Stark outrageous curage he had 1456 Hay I. 81/35.
Force spirituale, that is to say, hardy curage, makis victory Ib. II. 4/17.
Be … the force of his noble and hie curage … [he] had aventurit his persone c1475 Wall. vi. 880.
The Erlle beheld fast till his hye curage c1500 Fyve Bestes 415.
Curage throw covatis is set at nocht c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 203.
He has a luke without lust, & lif without curage Ib. x. 21.
The crop of curage, the strenth of armes in stour 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 93.
O ȝe maist forsy ȝong men … , With brestis strang, and sa bald curage hie Ib. viii. 25.
Our spretis war restoryt, and curage grew The Kyngis palyce to succur 1531 Bell. Boece I. 133.
The Scottis at thair first assemblance hes maist curage 1549 Compl. 85/18.
Thir vordis … suld prouoke ȝou to curaige c1550 Rolland C. Venus Prol. 170.
Sum settis … thair puissance and curage To hald thair realme … out of thirlage 1571 Sat. P. xxvi. 3.
Pluk vp ȝour harts, lat not ȝour curage cauld a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxviii. 24.
Thocht Rigovr then be rekles rash, Ȝit Curage bydis the brash 1622-6 Bisset I. 19/8.
Ȝit, my meattis, of curaige constant be

3. High spirit, haughtiness. 1490 Irland Mir. I. 15/19.
That sum, that happin has mynd of pryd, … [may] ses thar curage and be content of ressoune