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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unskilful(l, adj. Also: unskylfull, -skeillfull, wnskil(l)ful(l. [ME and e.m.E. vnskylful (c1370), vnskilful (Chaucer), unskilfull (c1491); Skil(l)ful(l adj.]

1. Unreasonable, improper. c1420 Wynt. v 1210.
The angell bad [St. Gregory] … cheis Owthire Trajanys saule to leys Or ellis to tak hym a seiknes, Sen his askyn unskylfull [W. vnskilfull] wes c1475 Wall. xi 477.
Thi will wnskillfull is; Thow wald I did quhilk is our hye a mys

2. a. Ignorant of propriety, uncouth. b. Without discernment, naive. —a. a1500 Rauf C. 159.
Schir, thow art vnskilfull … Thow byrd to haue nurtour aneuch, and thow hes naneb. 1587-99 Hume 74/203.
Simple sauls, vnskilfull, moyenles, The pure quhome strang oppressors dois oppres

3. Unskilled, inexpert. Also proverb. = Unskild ppl. adj. 1586 Conv. Burghs I 209.
The sending … of vnskilfull commissioneris … nather faurrand nor practesitt in the effaires of the estaitt of burrowis 1602 Colville Paraenese 115.
As if a fyne pretieux stone suld be douted vpon … amangs vnskilfull lapidars 1619 Dundee B. Laws 553.
Certane vnskilfull persones who hes littit in fals and vntrue cullouris 1650 Aberd. Council Lett. III 177.
Unskeillfull persones ar imployit in metting of pledingproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1706) 289 (see Unskild ppl. adj.).
Unskilful [MS wnskilful]