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

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

S(c)ham(e)ful(l, adj. Also: schaym-, scheam-, schem-, schamme- and -fule. Compar. shamfullar. [ME and e.m.E. scamful (Cursor M.), schameful (c1330), also scheomeful (Ancr. R.), OE sceomfull; S(c)ham(e n.]

1. Modest; easily abashed. ?1438 Alex. ii 2072.
Na to be shamefull helpis it nocht Ib. 8444.
Emynedus was … shamefull for the ladyes fre That micht him fra the kirnallis se 1456 Hay II 102/5.
Do all thy diligence to … spere of the grete necessitee of the poure and schamefull creaturis of mankynde that feble ar and in grete nede a1500 Bk. Chess 609.
Schamefull to be … Makis a woman lovit & weile luffit c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 155.
Tender Youth … Grene Innocence, and schamefull Abaising 1560 Rolland Seven S. 8748.
Lodwik was schamefull and feminine, And Alexander peirt, furthie and masculine 1583 Sempill Warning vii.
Ane schamefull begger nevir bocht na land [etc.]

2. Full of shame, overcome by shame; ashamed. Const. that (introducing the cause of shame) or (for) to (do something). 1375 Barb. viii 359.
Sa schamfull that he wencusit wais, That till Ingland in hy he gais Rycht to the king, and schamfully He gaff wp thar his wardanry ?1438 Alex. ii 1640.
Quhen Marciane felt he fallen was He was shamefull and swith he rais Ib. 2536.
He was abased to say thare-till And shamefull for to hald him still a1500 Henr. Fab. 973.
Blakinnit cheikis and schamefull countenance! Ib. 1984.
I am schamefull for to cum behind thame In to the feild

3. That is a cause of shame or disgrace; that brings to shame; disgraceful, degrading; scandalous; disgusting. Also transf.Freq., schamefull dede, cf. schamis deid S(c)hame n. 3 c.Once, appar., ? that brings shame on (to) (a person).(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 224.
Ellis thu thole sal … a schameful dede a1500 Henr. Fab. 984. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3695.
Ane schamefull deid doutles thay serue to die 15.. Bk. Dean Lismore p. 38.
Quhat child thair is gottin or born on that day … he sal owthir be brint or drownit or de sum schameful ded or de suddanly — a1500 Henr. Fab. 653.
Deid is reward off sin and schamefull end Ib. 1458.(b) c1420 Wynt. v 4480.
Teodoryk … And hym thare put till schemfull [C. schamful] dede a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 62.
Ane schemfull [pr. sehemfull] deid I gairtt thame de(2) 1456 Hay I 86/15.
And it is wele clere till understand that to flee of the bataill is bathe dishoneste and schamefull thing c1508 Ch. & M. Prints iib 44.
Knyghtly manhede and schamefull couardise … accordis noght 1513 Doug. iii vi 30.
With schameful hungir [L. obscenam … famem] sal happyn our menȝe Ib. xii Prol. 225.
Thus oft dywlgat is this schamefull play … contagius and infective Ib. xiii iii 134.
With schamefull wond caucht in thi bak 1533 Bell. Livy II 47/6.
Ane schamefull iugement gevin be the Romane pepill on certane … debatabill landis a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. 333/1.
Trasoun is the maist schamefull thing … And sould be hatit maist 1570 Bann. Memor. 74.
The schamefull cuffing and misvsing of my kindsman a1578 Pitsc. I 21/20.
The … discentioun is … foundit vpoun ane … schamefull and wicked ground 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 163/465.
The shamefull plaigue & uyle 1597–8 Elgin Rec. II 62.
Quhatsumeuir persoun … giffis thame selues to schamefull and insolent lauching within the kirk 1621 Crim. Trials III 507.
Delaitit of the schamefull forceing and defloiring of Bessie Leslie(b) c1490 Porteous Noblenes 179/19 (A).
Thaim that has ane vicious schamfull & foule lyf c1520-c1535 Nisbet III 330/1.
The … workyng of schammefull synnes quhilkis are abhomynabile aganis nature 1531 Bell. Boece I xxiv.
Thair crapulus and schamfull glutone 1567 Facs. Nat. MSS III lv.
The schamfull and horrible murther of vmquhile the king a1578 Pitsc. I 406/26. 1596 Highland P. I 153.
The said wickid shamfull ungodly and treasonable enterprise(c) 1513 Doug. ii vii 68.
[Some Greeks] for schaymfull cowartyce, Clam vp agane in the gret horssis maw(d) 1581 Digest Justiciary Proc. K 16.
Convict of the crewell scheamfull tressonabill & abhominabill slauchter … of umquhill Henry King of Scottiscompar. 1569 Cal. Sc. P. III 16.
[Her grace … would never have consented to any] shamfullar [proceedings towards him]transf. a1500 Seven S. 1090.
Thow sall byde thar the schamfull houre Ib. 1134.(3) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 122 (D).
The prolocucioune War schamfule harsk & rycht felloune To Amphymacus 1490 Irland Mir. III 17/25.
The croce of Jhesu is maid in the forret of the persoune to schaw & betakin that the passioun of Jhesu was richt schamfull in the tym and ignominius

b. The schamefull deid, sexual intercourse outwith marriage. c1490 Irland Asl. MS 73/6.
I haue synnit … in the schamfull deid with madinnis mennis wyffis personis of religioun or other women sib or fremmyt

c. Of a person or class of persons: That has been put to, or is deserving of, shame or disgrace. 1513 Doug. ix vii 177.
The schamful victouris … The pray and spreth … Joysyng but obstakil 1531 Bell. Boece II 69.
Thay war degenerat fra vailyeant pepill in maist schamfull drunkettis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5819.
With Symon Magus, sall resort, Off proude preistis, ane schamefull sort c1590 Fowler II 26/24.
Alredie conuictit … to be a shamful lyer

4. Of language: Casting shame; vituperative. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 7/12.
Judas … Tuik blissit Jesu … And schot him furth with mony ane schow With schamefull wourdis of dishonour