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: 1400-1533, 1596-1626
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Fals, v. Also: false, falce. [ME. false, early falsie, OF. falser, L. falsāre.]
1. tr. To maintain to be false. a. To fals a dome, ‘to deny the equity of a sentence, and appeal to a superior court’ (J). 14.. Acts I. 378/1.
The manere of dome falsing. Gif ony party will fals a dome he aucht to say thus: This dome is fals [etc.] 14.. Ib.
Al domes falsit or aganesaid in burrow court salbe determinyt … throw foure burgesis 1440 Biggar 289.
The doyme forsaid … is evyl, … and here we … fals it, adnul it, and again call it 1478 Acts Lords of Council 19/2.
A lettre … for the differring and cessinge of the discussing of a dome gevin in the burghe of Perth; falsit and again said be Gilbert Broune 1503 Acts II. 246/1.
Quhare ony dume is falsit other apone dylatoure or peremptour exceptione or otherwais 1622-6 Bisset I. 287/21.
In quhat courtis domes suld be falsed 1622-6 Ib. 288/14.
He may within fourtie days … fals the dome in this maner
b. To fals an instrument, to prove it to be forged or spurious. 1478 Acts Lords Auditors 62/1.
Esplyne allegeit that the said instrument was of nane avale and offerit him to inpung and fals the sammyn 1491 Acts Lords of Council 169/2.
The procuratour[is] … tuk apoun thaim to false the said instrument ciuily
2. To violate or break (an oath, promise, etc.). 1456 Hay I. 87/28.
A knycht has his athe of obeysaunce till his souerane lord, the quhilk he has falsit in that cas c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace x. 606.
For all Ingland I wald nocht fals my seill 1533 Bell. Livy I. 273/13.
The pepil war nocht sa necligent in thai dayis … to fais thare worde 1596 Dalr. II. 159/22.
Baith, for faiseng thair promise, war committit in keipeng to the Erle of Arran 1596 Ib. 161/31.
Gif Arran onywise falset his faith, or brak his promise
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"Fals v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fals_v>


