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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.

Novell-, Nowellis, -(e)s, n. pl. Also: novels, novallis, nouvellis. [Late ME. (Towneley Plays) and e.m.E. novel(l)s pl., also (17th c. e.m.E.) sing. novel, OF. noveles (mod. F. nouvelles) pl., med. L. novella, novelle, pl., f. as Novel a.In some instances in verse the stress appar. falls on the first syllable (Lynd. Meldrum 256, 1066, and 1574 Three Reformers 108, also Lynd. in 1 (3) below); in others it appar. falls on the second syllable, as it also does in the common mod. Sc. form of novel a work of fiction (Lynd. Sat. 2091, Id. Meldrum 874 and Mon. 2377, also Rolland and G. Ball. in 1 (1) (b) below); some instances (1570 Sat. P. xxiv. 99 and J. Stewart in 1 (2) below) are uncertain.]

1. a. New or recent events or matters, as the subject of report or tidings. b. Tidings of these, news.(1) 1513 Treas. Acc. IV. 411.
To ane man that brocht writingis … fra the dene of Glasgw of novellis to the King 1524 Douglas Corr. 89.
For novellis in thir partis, the Bechep of Sanct Andros is put to his fredoume [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece I. 75; etc. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 8/9.
Thai will haisty thame self to here thir novellis [L. haec nova] and recent dedis done in our dais Ib. 110/17.
To be consultit with thame of certane novellis & haisty materis [L. re nova] Ib. 66/5, 246/28. 1540 Misc. Bann. C. I. 331.
That nouellis thair is bot few heir vorthy to be writtin 1554 Argyll Fam. Lett. 3.
It war our prolixt to writ … all novellis and purpossis concernyng this wiage 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 152.
Novallis a1578 Pitsc. I. 398/27.
So sune as the King of Ingland gat word of thir novellis he was werie heavelie discontentit thairwitht 1602–4 Cal. Sc. P. II. 7.
[I] thankis you gretlie of your novellis 1644 Douglas Corr. 255.
All the nouels which comes from him I do bourne them(b) 1547 Treas. Acc. IX. 113.
Quha come furth of Berwik witht nowellis 1554 Corr. M. Lorraine 392.
My Lord of Huntlie hes gotin uther nowellis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 10345.
Sum new nowellis to heir 1567 G. Ball. 49.
I come from heuin to tell The best nowellis that euer befell a1578 Pitsc. I. i 19/23.
At thir nowellis and chairge the Erle of Douglas mockit … the herauld 1651 Wemyss Corr. 95.
Nowells(c) 1549 Compl. 119/34.
Nouuellis(2) 1523 Treas. Acc. V. 217.
With novellis of France 1533 Boece ii. vii. 70.
Of this infortunate batell the novellis to the … pepill … war na les lamentabill 1541–2 Ayr B. Acc. 88. 1567 Sel. MSS. Q. Mary 176.
As for generalls novells of court 1588 Prot. Bk. J. Inglis 103 a.
Novellis out of Callabria that laitlie did appere of ane starn c1590 J. Stewart II. 247 § 190.
Quhow angils … iofull nouels brocht of Godis grace c 1600 Breadalbane Lett.
All ȝour nowellis of the west a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1804) 186.
Novallis(3) 1533 Boece ii. iii. 61.
He mycht bere with him to his broder Fergis glaid novellis eftir his dede that he was assurit of the prosperite … of his hous c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2128.
The nowellis throuch the warld thay went Quhow King Nynus … One curious image he had maid 1558 Waus Corr. ii.
I haiff no nouelles to vrait to your vders nor that our Pape is rycht able to die 1570 Leslie 166.
Novellis wes brocht unto him that [etc.] 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 152.
Thair come novellis … that [etc.]

2. (A collection of) tales or short stories.e.m.E. (1566), It. novelle (also F. nouvelles). 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 244.
The first buik of the novallis of Ronsard