Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Superflew, adj., adv. and n. Also: -flewe, -fleu, -flu(e. [ME and e.m.E. superflu(e (Wyclif), superfleu (c1400), OF superflu (13th c. in Larousse), late L. superfluus, f. superfluere. Cf. Superfluous adj. (adv.).]

1. adj. More than sufficient; excessively abundant.attrib. 1531 Bell. Boece I xxiii.
The superflew aboundance of all uthir thingis necessar to the use of man … makis the peple the les industrius and crafty 1531 Bell. Boece I 162.
To the fine that na man of his realme … sall use reiffis on the cuntre, he send all superflew pepil to be wageouris to the Britonis 1533 Boece 523.
Giff amang ȝow … be ony money superflewe 1566 Reg. Privy C. I 471.
That ather of thame sustene and releif utheris necessiteis be interchange of the … superflew frutis growand in the Laich and Hielandis(b) 1553 Treas. Acc. X 213.
The comptar dischargis him witht the superflu oneratioun … quhilk is nocht in the said roll extending to xxxij li.predic. 1531 Bell. Boece I 38.
The sacrifice usit in thay dayis was ane portioun of cornis, cattellis [etc.] … offerit to the goddis, quhen the samin was superflew, or mair than was sufficient sustentatioun to the preistis 1533 Bell. Livy II 70/6.
Ilk man was constrenit to sell all the victalis quhilkis war superflew, or mare than mycht nuris him self

2. Not needed; unnecessary. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1252 (D).
Quharfor that seire I ourset now Passing aweye as superflew [L. superflua] 1533 Boece 250b.
Giff the exhortacioun … had movit ȝoure myndis, … it had bene now superflewe to propone ma wourdis c1550-c1580 Art of Music 13b.
The auld fatheris … did decreit thrie musicall greis to be of dyuers circlis superflew and abusit with tua circlis and ane meid pwnct in this vys 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 513.
Superflew it wer to mak ony new repetitioun of the samyn 1584 Cal. Sc. P. VII 111.
To repete thair names we think was neadles and superflew

3. Exceeding what is usual, normal, right or permissible. 1480–1 Peebles Chart. 28.
For thair exceding and superflue deliuering in the said mater forther than thai had power [etc.] 1533 Boece 408b.
Medicinaris … fand na remede to stanche the superflewe & noysum swete 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 37.
Medicine lenitiue, quhilk man … purge al superflew flewme 1584–5 Reg. Privy C. III 720.
Sumonding of superflew assysaris abone the number specialie appointit in the act of parliament [etc.]

b. Immoderate, characterised by excessive self-indulgence.(a) 1531 Bell. Boece I 51.
Sen our time is now sa venomit with uncouth and superflew metis and drinkis 1531 Bell. Boece II 73.
The superflew rentis of thir abbayis, gevin be magnificence of princis, inducis religious men … to sleuth and sensuall lustis 1531 Bell. Boece II 284.
Sic insolence rais that time amang our eldaris quhen the maneris, langage and superflew cheir of Inglismen come first amang us that [etc.] 1531 Bell. Boece II 284.
And yit the riotus and superflew maneris quhilkis war brocht in this realme be … Inglismen … ar of litil comparison to sic thingis as ar usit in our dayis c1610 Melville Mem. 392.
Ther superflew expences in cheir and clothing(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rom. xiii 13.
Gang we honestlie, nocht in superflue [P. superflu] feestis and drunkinnessis 1549 Compl. 142/29.
There is sum of thir mecanyc pepil heffand superflu prosperite, that refusis the genoligie of there fathere and mothere 1549 Compl. 156/6.
The superflu & prodig expensis that he maid on corne to feid ane grit numir of onutil horse(c) 1549 Compl. 170/29.
The mair eleuat that ane person be in superfleu digniteis, his fal & ruuyn sal be the hauyar

c. Excessive, exorbitant. 1556 Liber Calchou 480.
Allowit to the comptar and defalcate to him be ressoun of superflue charge; being chargit with meill and aittis bayth for the mains of Lesmahago [etc.] 1561 Exch. R. XIX 477.
This chairg is superflew. Charge in the soum of £112 albeit he suld be chargit with £91

4. adv. In the phrase superflue cha(i)rgit, charged in excess (of what is right). 1553 Treas. Acc. X 213.
Superflu chargit becaus the said compositioun wes giffyn gratis at my lorde governoures commande to the maister of Hales, extending to xxiiij li. 1558 Exch. R. XXI 352 marg.
Vrang calculat and superflue chargit 10 s. 1595 Exch. R. XXIII 53.
Defaisit yeirlie in the compt of Fyif, as superflue chairgit in the rental thairof c1610 Skene in Misc. Stair Soc. I 149.
Superfule charges: That all articles of comptis superflue chargeit, whairof the king has no profite, be discharged

5. noun. Of food, etc.: More than sufficient; an excessive amount. 15.. Dum Wyf 83.
‘Blame thy selff,’ quod he, ‘That gaif hir superflew’ 1622-6 Bisset I 46/19.
Nane of thir thingis war inhibit to aidged men bot allanerlie to eschew superflew, and mony courses