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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Spousal, n. Also: spousall(e, spousale, spowsal(l, spowsale. [ME and e.m.E. sposail, spusail, -eil (all Cursor M.), spousayle, spousale (both Manning), spousaille (Chaucer), OF espus-, espos-, espousaille (also pl.).]

1. = Spousage n. 1. a1400 Leg. S. x 333.
Scho also come … & here with-all Quhat gud of spousale spek I sall; For gud spousale is plesand thinge To God a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 109.
Of spousal the reward is Barnis for til haf, I-wis c1420 Wynt. vii 269.
Wyth hyr hys lyff In lele spowsale he thowcht to lede 14… Edinb. Univ. MS La.ii.318.
Bot thai that in the state of spousale Wirkis throu haly consale 1458 Fam. Rose 133.
The said Huchoun sal haf the airis mariage of the said William richt sa, that sal be gettin betuix him therefftir or any lauchful wif in spousale

2. = Spousage n. 2. Also in fig. context, and pl. as sing. (after Purvey). Also attrib. c1420 Wynt. vi 1327.
He held hym [payit] off that spowsall [C. spousalle, W. spousall] And gave that child full governale Off hys land 1513 Doug. x xii 82.
That fugityve into his lusty heyt Had left hys spowsal trewth plicht oncompleit 1513 Doug. xiii vi 13.
The wedlok promyst, … And spousal of hys douchtir hecht withall c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark ii 19.
And Jesus said to thame, Quhethir the sonnis of spousalis [W. weddyngis, P. sposailis] may fast als lang as the spouse is with thame?pl. as sing. c1520-c1535 Nisbet II 1.
Johne euangelist … quham God callit fra the spousalis [P. sposeilis] quhen he wald be wedditattrib. 1513 Doug. vii ix 39.
Now lat thame begyn Sik wedlok to contract and spousale feste