A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1400-1599
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Nobil(l)-, Noblenes, n. Also: nobl- and -nesse, -nace. [Late ME. nobil-, nobylnes(se, e.m.E. noblenes(s.]
1. The state or quality of being noble, nobility of rank or character, nobleness; also, valour. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 2743.
Menelay … All schame and nobilnes put away And one Andromatha … Ruschit ?1438 Alex. ii. 2132, etc. c1420 Ratis Raving 404.
Gif thai … has condiscione Of nobilnes or gret renown 1456 Hay II. 64/17.
And nobilnes of fors of curage 1456 Ib. 69/16.
Of noble personis, that is to say, personis vertuous, sen all nobilnesse presupponis vertu a1500 Henr. Orph. i. (Ch. & M.). c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2042.
The hie nobillnes that men of him recordis c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace iii. 160.
Off sa few folk gret nobilnes was kend c1475 Ib. xi. 267.
Nobilnace c1490 Porteous Noblenes (passim). 1490 Irland Mir. I. 10/14.
The victorie … fell to the Grekis for thar gret wisdome and nobilnes c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxix. 1.
Fredome, honour and nobilnes … Ar now in cowrt reput as vyce c1500-c1512 Id. xlviii. 174.
Haill, naturis suffragene, In bewty, nurtour and every nobilnes 1513 Doug. ix. Prol. 21.
The ryall style clepyt heroycall, Full of wirschip and nobilnes our all 1535 Stewart 29987. 15.. Clariodus v. 731.
Marchallit … Efter the order of thair nobilnes 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 148/6. c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 69.
[He was] Of nobilnes lineallie discendit 1567 Anderson Collect. Mary I. 90.
Be ressoun of the nobilnes and anciency of the same 1596 Dalr. I. 96 marg.
Quhairfra thair bosting of thair nobilnes proceidis
2. Display, splendour. a1586 Maitland Geneal. Setoun 28.
Ane grit housholdar and all giuen to noblnes
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"Noblenes n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/noblenes>
