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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.

(Unsufficiand,) Unsuffyciande, -sufficient, adj. Also: wnssufyciand, wnsufficient, unsuficient, -suffycent, onsufficient. [ME and e.m.E. vnsufficient (1395), vnsuffycyente (c1450), onsufficient (1482); Sufficiand(e adj.]

1. Of a person: Unsatisfactory in terms of conduct, way of life, etc. 1461 Newburgh B. Ct. 6a.
Thyr arr the namys that ar vnsuffyciand in the nev burht in the fyrst Cristian Laying [etc.] … & said Wyl of Muris vyf vnsuffyciande nyhtbur 1505 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 107.
[Not to let houses] till ony vagabounds … bot sic as may life vpon … their honest … labouris, and gif ony sic tennents vnsufficient be had in thair houssis that the lairds of that grund devoyde thame incontinent

2. Deficient in skill or ability; inadequate, incompetent. Also const. for (a post) or to do something.(1) 1503 Acts II 242/1.
Anent fals notaris … that ilk bischop summond all the notaris in his diocy & … punist & depriue thaim that ar fals or vnsufficient 1554 Holyrood Chart. 291.
Certane masters of the samyn [sc. cordiner] crauft … for eschewing of unsufficent craftismen … hes deuiset … certane gude statuts … to be observit(2) 1653 Dingwall Presb. 258.
The Irishe bursar compeired and … is found wnsufficient for the place bestowed on him(3) 1535 Stewart 15781.
Vnsufficient I am this tyme to ruis His greit vertew and his nobilitie

3. Of things, workmanship, etc.: Inadequate, unsatisfactory. b. transf. Of a person: Responsible for some such inadequacy.(a) 1527 Wigtown B. Ct. 207b.
Schallans fore sellyne hyme of ane wnssufyciand kow 1531 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 50.
Baikand his breid vnsufficient stuf bayth of wecht and fynes 1569 Canongate Ct. Bk. 31.
The said David allegeand the litting to have bene unsufficient the baillies reservit actioun to him thairanent 1608 Glasgow Weavers 52.
Andro Witherspoone hes wrocht unsufficient wark to Christian Ros in weifing ane gamhekling wob to hir 1623 Conv. Burghs III 142.
The hyds … not being abill to abyid the same [sc. new form of barking and tanning] is altogidder broght to be vnsufficient for the people for halding out of weit 1637 Dumbarton B. Rec. 53.
The vissitor to the meill mercat being careless, the meill is altogeddir unsufficient being mixed with dust 1649 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 855.
Charles Carsane to ressave fra Margaret McClellane ane vnsufficient ryall at lvj s. the peice and to mak payment to hir of fyftie vj s. of guid monie 1668 Corshill Baron Ct. 78.
Williame Glen … compleaned … that … the said sufficient barley hes given vnsufficient malt 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 19 Nov. (see b below). 1678 Edinb. B. Rec. X 342.
Many horse hyrers … doe let for hyre to the leidges many unsufficient horses that are not able to ryd ther jurnies 1682 Stitchill Baron Ct. 90.
In keiping of unsufficient weights and in not trying the samyn with the weights of John Horsbrugh of the Sherefdom of Roxburgh 1684 Glasgow B. Rec. III 355.
To … search and try the wright work made … and to confiscat what shall be unsufficient for the use and behove of the wrights of Gorballs their poor 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 523.
To … have taken in young men [into the garrison] … whose cloathes are very badd and unsuficient(b) 1687 Corshill Baron Ct. 175.
Johne Montgomerie, procurator fiscall, persued … the tennentis … anent onsufficient dycksb. 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 19 Nov.
To goe sicht the entries for the yeards with the officiers with them and where they fynd vnsuffycent entries they are to poynd ilk persone vnsufficient for fyve merks

4. Of inadequate quantity, not enough (to fulfil some function). 1535 Stewart 47527.
Thair victuall wes so scant and small, Vnsufficient … to sustene thame all