A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1652
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Doutsum, Dowtsum, a. Also: doutsome, -sam, doubtsom, -(e)sum, doubt-, dowbtsome. [f. Dout n.Only in Sc. and later north Eng. dial.]
1. Of doubtful or uncertain meaning, import, or significance; ambiguous, undecided.(a) 1513 Doug. vi. ii. 42.
Horribil answeris, ful dowtsum to consave 1513 Ib. xi. vii. 115.
That mater quhilk … Is nother dyrk nor dowtsum, bot full cleir 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III. 66.
That thing quhilk we receuit nocht as dowtsum 1590 Criminal Trials I. iii. 211.
Sathan stwid, … makand ane sermond of dowtsum speichis(b) 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II. 34.
Gif thair be ony terme doutsum or obscur in the premissis 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 83/26.
Appollo gaue to kyng Cresus ane doutsum ansuere of ambiguite 1562-3 Winȝet I. 74/24.
Ony new interpretatioun … albeit nocht erroneous bot to ws always doutsum a1570-86 Maitland Maitland Folio MS xiv. 58.
In materis grit and doutsum c 1615 Maxwell Mem. I. 323.
Sum litill doutsum fraises and wordis(c) 1558-66 Knox II. 249.
This we do offer as the best counsall that God geveth us in so doubtsome a case 1585 James VI Ess. 33.
With doubtsum talk she craftely begylde Not only Grece c1614 Mure Dido i. 111.
Apollo … did in dowbtsome oracles vnfold Hid mysteries 1652 Lanark B. Rec. 148.
It is … a foundation laid down in general and doubtsom terms
b. Of uncertain issue or result. 1513 Doug. iv. xi. 38.
In cace the aventur of bataill Had beyn doutsum 1513 Ib. ix. vii. 63.
Quham … The myrk nycht, and the hasty dowtsum fray, Betrasyt had 1531 Bell. Boece I. 4.
Than followit ane richt dangerus and doutsum battel 1533 Boece i. ii. 35.
Gathele brocht his power to the feild, quhare certane tyme doutsum indurit the fecht a1578 Pitsc. I. 49/1.
It was sa lang fouchten with doutsome chance
c. Of doubtful ownership. 1533 Bell. Livy II. 47/7.
Ane schamefull iugement gevin be Romane pepill on certane doutsum and debatabill landis
2. Involving risk or danger; formidable. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 34/17.
This Hostilius … debatit the Romane armye in ane maist doutsum and dangerous place 1533 Ib. 57/7.
The … weilding of thare doutsum and dangerus suerdis and dartis 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 133.
It is now dowtsum to punes be the law as the sammyn requiris 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 1221.
O doly dragoun and doutsum den 1560 Ib. 9537.
Thair docht na man indure thair doutsum dynt 1596 Dalr. II. 250/3.
Gif so gret a jornay and sa doubtsum he tuik in hand [etc.]
3. Doubtful or undecided in opinion. 1513 Doug. iv. ii. 5.
Hir doutsum mynd with gude hope so scho esys 1513 Ib. ix. iii. 28.
Now the dowtsum dreid … Full pensyve haldis me 1533 Bell. Livy I. 38/33.
Quhen Romulus apperit doutsum in his mynde quhidder he wald fle [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet I. 28/13.
Thairfore I desyre the doutsum man to cause his doctour … to ansueir in writ 1596 Dalr. II. 260/27. 1596 Ib. 320/2.
Nouthir evir was he doubtesum in materis that war sure
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"Doutsum adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/doutsum>
